Turkey's accession to the European Union will send a message to the world that democracy and Islam are not incompatible, a conference in Dublin heard today.
In an address to the National Forum on Europe, Turkey's chief negotiator, Ali Babacan, said his country's membership of the EU will prove that the EU is not closed to countries of other faiths as long as they comply with required standards.
"If the EU gives the impression that it is a Christian club, this will give a pretext to the fundamentalist organisations to claim that the EU excludes non-Christians and that the world is divided on the basis of religious fault lines," Mr Babacan told delegates in the Westin Hotel.
He said Turkey's membership will help strengthen the EU's role as a global actor as the country is a key regional player, located close to many of the world's political "hotspots".
Sinn Féin councillor Daithí Doolan
"Turkey can help enhance stability and promote welfare in the Balkans, the Caucasus, central Asia and the Middle East," he said in his speech which put forward the case for Turkey's membership of the EU.
Mr Babacan said although his country was made up of a predominately Muslim population, it was also a secular country.
"Secularity in Turkey is not only a principle enshrined in the [Turkish]constitution but one that is properly grasped and digested by the Turkish people.
"Democratic institutions function properly, at least more satisfactorily than some of the existing member countries of the EU. The unique features of Turkey make it a special case in the Islamic world," he said.
But a number of delegates at today's forum questioned Turkey's human rights record and its treatment of the minority Kurdish population.
Socialist Party TD Joe Higgins said although Turkey may well be described as a key regional player, this had had "deleterious results for its neighbouring peoples and countries".
Mr Higgins said Turkey had consistently denied Kurdish people the right of self determination.
He also claimed that when Gama construction workers were found to have been exploited while on contract in Ireland, not a single word of support for these men had emanated from Ankara.
Labour's Joe Costello said workers' rights in Turkey differed dramatically from the EU in terms of trade union membership and the right to strike. He also said the state's embargo on air and sea traffic from Cyprus was an anathema to the EU.
Sinn Féin councillor Daithí Doolan said: "Turkey has a long and appalling human rights history. It's ongoing occupation of Cyprus, jailing and torture of political activists, state executions and its attempt to wipe out Kurdistan are all a matter on international record."
Independent senator Mary Henry also challenged Mr Babacan on the representation of women in his country's parliament - which she said was well below that of EU countries.
