Interesting events going on in Turkey, a mass rally to support secular democracy and to oppose a Muslim candidate for the presidency. The army has staged a number of coups in the past to oust presidents, most recently one from the islamic Welfare Party, which is connected to candidate Abdullah Gul's Justice and Development Party. It raises some interesting questions about the objectivity of this secular state if a military coup is seen as necessary to defend secular democracy against democratically elected members of government.

An army statement on Friday accused the government of tolerating radical Islam and vowed to defend secularism.
Business leaders have also issued a statement calling on the court to annul the vote, paving the way for early elections.
The influential TUSIAD association said a vote was necessary "to preserve the inseparable principles of democracy and secularism".

It should be interesting to see how this pans out, but the issue of having a secular state has been hugely important in Turkey since is foundation as a republic in 1923, and I suppose especially now as it looks for entry into the EU. With 99% of the country being Muslim though, it seems almost impossible to have a secular state without some kind of external pressure.


Also in the news, a Dutchman has built a replica of Noah's ark, which he plans to sail around the inland waters of the Netherlands.