>Hi Terry,
>
>>No, but I have visited Gambia and Egypt, 2 countries with a mixed Christain/Muslim popn - Egypt having, I think, a larger Coptic propn. than Turkey has xians. You can buy booze everywhere, but the muslims in ghelabias don't drink it. I got the figure on Turkey 95% from a TV prog just last week, about two fashion businesses: one selling muslim head scarves and such, the other selling sexy lingerie, highlighting the secular differences of the country, almost a backlash from Attaturk's rulings, trying to banish fundamentalist Islam from the country.
>>
>>So are you saying that the muslims in Turkey tie one on frequently?
>
>Well, turkey is not the tipical muslim country many people think it is (But of course our turkish members might chime in here). It has a secular government. In the 20th century under atatürk it modelled its government towards a more western model.

Erm, isn't that what I said at the end of my 1st para?

>
>Having been in turkey as well as many of my friends and family I know that esspecially citizens in the large cities and in touristical places are 'modern' muslims. In those places the tipical muslim dress code is less present and have a more western style of living. The young people I spoke (not implying that is representative to the whole population) regulary drink some alcohol.

I'm well aware of this (re: Attaturk, the evidence of the TV prog I mentioned, general knowledge)

>
>Here in europe, I know several muslim (in fact one of them is one of my best colleages), who are only muslim by name (just as I'm just catholic by name), and have totally integrated much into our society.

Now this answers my question.

Terry