A 'Communist and Muslim' Poet In Contemporary Turkey: The Works of Ismet Ozel

Abstract

When Ismet ozel published a poem announcing his conversion to Islam in the 1970s, he immediately gained the attention of conservative circles and the respect of the left (at least until the early 1990s). In a few years, with his strong critique of imperialism, capitalism and the Turkish modernisation process, he became one of the most popular Islamist authors. The 28 February Process and the emergence of a pragmatic Islamist movement, however, abruptly marginalised ozel, who became even more radical in his religious nationalist views. This article will analyse ozel's political ideas and the major polemics that accompanied his career. The analysis will help us in understanding the main issues and contradictions that surround the recent evolution of Islamism in contemporary Turkey.

Telif hakları gereğince yayın erişime kapalıdır. Yayın yayıncı tarafından erişime açık ise bağlantılar kısmından ulaşılabilmektedir.