AUSTRALIAN NEWSPAPER INSULTS ATATURK
By Anka, Sidney
Zaman Online, Turkey
Oct 1 2006
An Australian newspaper published a cartoon showing Australian Finance
Minister Peter Costello pulling Ataturk’s body from his grave.
In the cartoon, Ataturk was holding a paper that read "Armenian
genocide."
A caption under the cartoon read, "He [Castello] raiseth up Ataturk."
In the article accompanying the cartoon, the writer asserted Turkey
abolished most of the restrictions imposed by Ataturk.
Dennis Altman, writer of the article, indicated it was ironic of
Costello to have praised Turkey last week.
The article claimed Ataturk saw religion as a barrier against progress;
therefore, he attempted to prevent religion from holding a public
role in modern Turkey.
It was further asserted that Ataturk tried to impose his opinions in
a way that could shock both secular and pious Australians.
During a speech last week, Costello pointed to secular Turkey, founded
by Ataturk, who commanded Turkish forces in Gallipoli, as a model of
leadership for the Islamic world.
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