Turkey Polls Oppose AKP Once Again
The Justice and Development Party (AKP) risks being labeled an “elitist” party, ignoring the preferences of its voters in foreign policy.
![TURKEY-PROTESTS/ERDOGAN Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan addresses members of parliament from his ruling AK Party (AKP) during a meeting at the Turkish parliament in Ankara June 11, 2013. Erdogan called on protesters to withdraw from central Istanbul's Gezi Park on Tuesday and said the anti-government demonstrations were part of a deliberate attempt to damage Turkey's image and economy. REUTERS/Umit Bektas (TURKEY - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST) - RTX10JI0](/sites/default/files/styles/article_hero_medium/public/almpics/2013/09/Erdoganakp.jpg/Erdoganakp.jpg?h=2d235432&itok=G-UCWQ_C)
Muslims’ concern for extremist groups has increased, while Hezbollah appeared as the least disliked — or most favored — among al-Qaeda, Taliban and Hamas, a Pew Research Global Attitudes Project survey (conducted in 11 Muslim countries) found earlier this month.
Intriguingly, for the Turkish public, only 1% is reported to view Hamas as “very favorable” and 4% as “somewhat favorable,” while 71% view the organization as unfavorable. This did not make the news in mainstream Turkish media. Only English-language Today's Zaman, which has a very limited Turkish readership, published a brief report about the results.