Ynetnews, Israel
May 31 2009

Study: Most Turks don’t want Jewish neighbors

Istanbul university study suggests Turks have low tolerance for
diverse lifestyles; 52% would not Christian neighbors

Associated Press Published: 05.31.09, 15:44 / Israel News

A study suggests Turks have low tolerance for diverse lifestyles as
three in four respondents said they would not want to live next to an
atheist or anyone drinking alcohol.

The study by Istanbul’s Bahcesehir University is meant to gauge
radicalism and extremism in Turkey.

Results published in Sunday’s Milliyet newspaper indicate 64% of Turks
would not want Jewish neighbors, 52% would not Christian neighbors,
67% would not want to live next to an unmarried couple and 43% would
not want American neighbors.

The survey is based on interviews with 1,715 people selected randomly
from 34 cities between April 12 and May 3. No margin of error was
given.

On Wednesday a Turkish court on Wednesday sentenced a man to five
months in prison for "insulting a section of society" after he put up
a banner saying Jews and Armenians were not allowed to enter his
business.

Niyazi Capa, who heads a cultural association in the city of
Eskisehir, west of Ankara, put up the banner to protest against
Israel’s offensive in Gaza earlier this year, which drew widespread
condemnation in predominantly Muslim Turkey.

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