Tomorrow Turkey will hold elections for its new president. Abdullah Gul from the AK Party is heavily favored, and the military has already released warnings stating that it will not let Gul take the country in a Islamist direction. Although 99% Muslim, Turkey has a secular government.
Gul is called a "former Islamist"; I am still unsure what that means. His wife dons the headscarf, a style that many Turks are uncomfortable with since the reforms enacted by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. These reforms included granting women the right to vote (1934) and banning the headscarf in public buildings.
The military has overthrown four governments in the past 60 years, so its discomfort with the ruling party's leanings is heeded by many.
Looks like September 16th is my leaving date. What a time to be in Turkey!
