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Felicity Party (Turkey)
Encyclopedia
The Felicity Party is a Turkish
political party founded in 2001. It is mainly supported by conservative Muslims in Turkey.
It was founded on 20 July 2001 after the Virtue Party (FP) was banned by the Constitutional Court. While the party's reformist wing formed the Justice and Development Party
(AKP), the hardliners founded the Felicity Party. Although an Islamist party, its policy platform covers the whole span of political issues in Turkey.
The Felicity Party has not been particularly successful electorally, polling just 2.5% of the vote in the 3 November 2002 general elections, thereby failing to pass the 10% threshold necessary to gain representation in the Turkish Grand National Assembly. It was slightly more successful in the local elections of 29 March 2004, winning 4.1% of the vote and a number of mayoralties, although none of any particular significance. In the 2011 election
they were reduced to 1.24% on the vote. During the period, Recai Kutan
(20 July 2001 – 11 May 2003 and again 30 January 2004 – 29 March 2008), Necmettin Erbakan
(11 May 2003 – 30 January 2004 and again from 17 October 2010 till his death on 27 February 2011) and Numan Kurtulmuş
(26 October 2008 – 1 October 2010) were leaders.
The Felicity Party's vote has been weakened by the success of the moderately Islamic Justice and Development Party
government, although it has repeatedly condemned the Turkish government's desire to join the European Union
, military ties with Israel
and the United States
. It has argued that Turkey must adapt its military and foreign policy stance to meet what it argues are increasing threats coming from the West
to all Muslim countries.
The Felicity Party's policy platform is based strongly around Erbakan's ideas and philosophy
.
The Felicity Party works both as a political party and an enormous social organization. It has party branches in nearly every discrict, small town and city in the country. In the past it has organized demonstrations on a wide range of issues, often involving tens of thousands of participants. Thousands of protesters joined SP organized demonstrations against the 2004 attack on Fallujah
, against the depictions of the Prophet Muhammed
in newspapers around the world, and most recently against Israel
's invasion in Gaza
during 2008–2009 conflict
.
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
political party founded in 2001. It is mainly supported by conservative Muslims in Turkey.
It was founded on 20 July 2001 after the Virtue Party (FP) was banned by the Constitutional Court. While the party's reformist wing formed the Justice and Development Party
Justice and Development Party (Turkey)
The Justice and Development Party , abbreviated JDP in English and AK PARTİ or AKP in Turkish, is a centre-right political party in Turkey. The party is the largest in Turkey, with 327 members of parliament...
(AKP), the hardliners founded the Felicity Party. Although an Islamist party, its policy platform covers the whole span of political issues in Turkey.
The Felicity Party has not been particularly successful electorally, polling just 2.5% of the vote in the 3 November 2002 general elections, thereby failing to pass the 10% threshold necessary to gain representation in the Turkish Grand National Assembly. It was slightly more successful in the local elections of 29 March 2004, winning 4.1% of the vote and a number of mayoralties, although none of any particular significance. In the 2011 election
Turkish general election, 2011
Turkey's 17th general election was held on 12 June 2011 to elect 550 new members of Grand National Assembly. They were Turkey's first non-early elections in 34 years.-Background:...
they were reduced to 1.24% on the vote. During the period, Recai Kutan
Recai Kutan
Mehmet Recai Kutan is a Turkish politician and the former leader of Felicity Party .-Biography:Kutan graduated from Istanbul Technical University, Department of Civil Engineering in 1952. Until 1973, he worked as an engineer in various projects including the Southeastern Anatolia Project...
(20 July 2001 – 11 May 2003 and again 30 January 2004 – 29 March 2008), Necmettin Erbakan
Necmettin Erbakan
Necmettin Erbakan was a Turkish engineer, academic, politician , who was the Prime Minister of Turkey from 1996 until 1997. He was Turkey's first Islamist Prime Minister...
(11 May 2003 – 30 January 2004 and again from 17 October 2010 till his death on 27 February 2011) and Numan Kurtulmuş
Numan Kurtulmuş
Prof. Dr. Numan Kurtulmuş is a Turkish politician.- His family :Numan Kurtulmuş comes from a prominent Turkish family with a scholarly heritage and impeccable reputation. He is the grandson of the author of a book entitled A Commentary on "I believed in"...
(26 October 2008 – 1 October 2010) were leaders.
The Felicity Party's vote has been weakened by the success of the moderately Islamic Justice and Development Party
Justice and Development Party (Turkey)
The Justice and Development Party , abbreviated JDP in English and AK PARTİ or AKP in Turkish, is a centre-right political party in Turkey. The party is the largest in Turkey, with 327 members of parliament...
government, although it has repeatedly condemned the Turkish government's desire to join the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
, military ties with Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It has argued that Turkey must adapt its military and foreign policy stance to meet what it argues are increasing threats coming from the West
Western world
The Western world, also known as the West and the Occident , is a term referring to the countries of Western Europe , the countries of the Americas, as well all countries of Northern and Central Europe, Australia and New Zealand...
to all Muslim countries.
The Felicity Party's policy platform is based strongly around Erbakan's ideas and philosophy
Millî Görüs
Millî Görüş has been called one of "the leading Turkish diaspora organizations in Europe". Founded in 1969, the movement claimed to have "87,000 members across Europe, including 50,000 in Germany," as of 2005...
.
The Felicity Party works both as a political party and an enormous social organization. It has party branches in nearly every discrict, small town and city in the country. In the past it has organized demonstrations on a wide range of issues, often involving tens of thousands of participants. Thousands of protesters joined SP organized demonstrations against the 2004 attack on Fallujah
Operation Phantom Fury
The Second Battle of Fallujah was a joint U.S., Iraqi, and British offensive in November and December 2004, considered the highest point of conflict in Fallujah during the Iraq War. It was led by the U.S...
, against the depictions of the Prophet Muhammed
Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy
The Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy began after 12 editorial cartoons, most of which depicted the Islamic prophet Muhammad, were published in the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten on 30 September 2005...
in newspapers around the world, and most recently against Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
's invasion in Gaza
Gaza
Gaza , also referred to as Gaza City, is a Palestinian city in the Gaza Strip, with a population of about 450,000, making it the largest city in the Palestinian territories.Inhabited since at least the 15th century BC,...
during 2008–2009 conflict
2008–2009 Israel–Gaza conflict
The Gaza War, known as Operation Cast Lead in Israel and as the Gaza Massacre in the Arab world, was a three-week bombing and invasion of the Gaza Strip by Israel, and hundreds of rocket attacks on south of Israel which...
.