Erdogan said the government would look into the recommendations.

By Sa'ad Abdul Majid, IOL Correspondent

ANKARA, February 18, 2005 (IslamOnline.net) – European recommendations for Turkey to free citizens' ID cards from religious reference and to stop compulsory religious courses at schools, raised suspicions and drew criticism in the dominantly Muslim country, with some saying the EU recommendations aim at "neutralizing, then swallowing" the Turkish people, and others believing they hurt the country's unity.

"The recommendations of the European Commission Against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) demonstrate an interference in Turkish affairs and aim at harming the unity of the Turkish people," Ali Ozdmer, a retired officer, told IslamOnline.net.

"We are proud that our ID cards highlight our Islamic identity," he said.

The ECRI has urged the Turkish government to drop any reference to religion on the ID cards and to stop the compulsory religious courses in the Turkish schools, alleging such measures would "bring the country's standards into line with the European standards".

The recommendations were put forward February 14, 2005, as part of a program to qualify Turkey to join the European Union.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he was displeased with the ECRI recommendations.

He, however, said the government would look into them and suggested there could be steps to modify the Turkish legislation, according to the Turkish mass media.

Last December, the European Union agreed to open membership talks with Turkey to join the 25-nation bloc.

Drawing Fire

Meanwhile, under a frontpage headline reading: "Do not interfere in our affairs", mass circulation Yeni Safak newspaper lashed out at the European recommendations.

O. Gonenc, opposition Saadet (Happiness) Party member and professor of international relations, said the European recommendations only aim at "neutralizing, then swallowing" the Turkish people.

"The European Commission wants to impose a new treaty on Turkey such as the Sefer agreement (signed in 1926 between the Ottoman Empire and the victorious countries in the World War I) to achieve what they failed to do by war," she said.

For her part, Nesrine Nas, former leader of the Motherland Party, voiced concern over the policies adopted by the Turkish government since the EU decision to launch membership talks with Turkey .

"Over the past two months, the government has done nothing, while the European Union is imposing new demands such as the removal of religion mark on the ID cards and an end to religious classes from schools," she was quoted by the Turkish CNN as saying Wednesday, February 16, 2005 .

The European commission also drew fire from S. Kazan , deputy chairman of the Saadet Party, who also questioned the timing of the commission's report.

"Rights of minorities in Turkey are protected. The non-Muslim minorities live with complete freedom in Turkey .

"I find the demands or recommendations hard to grasp, especially now. The report on minority status in Turkey was issued by the same EU committee in august, 2004."

Angry Reaction

Ordinary citizens also reacted in anger to the European recommendations.

"I don't know what the European Union has to do the religion of the Turkish citizens. What is Europe 's problem with Islam in order to try to impose such demands," said Mohamed Dogan, an employee.

He further stressed that such demands were put forward for political reasons and aimed at blocking Turkey 's membership in the European Union.

Mostafa Gul Safan, a driver, agreed.

"The Europeans want to strip off our Islamic identity. We don't want to join the EU if the price will be deserting Islam."