October 2, 2013 | Quote
Turkey Polls Oppose AKP Once Again
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.
Evaluating the report and why it wasn't reported in mainstream Turkish media, Justice and Development Party (AKP) pundits told Al-Monitor: “Pew is biased against Muslims.” Some tweeted, “Pew is Islamophobic.” One pundit asked, “How can you believe this rubbish?” And another insisted, “It must be a technical mistake.”
Pew Research Center is a Washington-based, non-partisan fact tank established in 2004 with transparent donor and data available online. Pew is widely respected all around the world, especially for its timely and wide-reaching public opinion polling.
When we look at the results since 2007, we see that the level of support for Hamas in Turkey has never exceeded 14% (in 2007). On the other side of the spectrum, those who view Hamas unfavorably have consistently surpassed 50% since 2007.
Since it came to power in 2002, the AKP increasingly has embraced Hamas. Taher Nounou, the media consultant for the Hamas government in Gaza, told Al-Monitor: “We have good relations with Turkey, but still we don’t have an official office in Turkey. We appreciate the Turkish role in the region; it was more advanced than others.” Nounou added that Turkish support is important as Gaza is struggling due to Israeli blockade. He commended the Turkish stand toward “Israeli aggression on Gaza during both Operation Cast Lead and Pillar of Defense.” He explained how Turkey deals directly with Hamas as an entity, adding: “So we are respectful to Turkey. And we are looking for closer relations with it.”
A 2011 Globescan poll has indicated that about 60% of the Turkish public would like to see Turkey vote for the Palestinian territories as a state at the United Nations, but when it comes to Hamas their support is minimal.
Jonathan Schanzer of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies told Al-Monitor: “Turkey's support for Hamas has been incremental.” Schanzer described how Turkish support evolved, saying Turkish support went “from political support to financial support to hosting a Hamas operative on Turkish soil.”