I COULDN’T agree more with David Hull’s letter in the Journal and his assessment of the EU and how there appears to be a doomsday scenario being promoted by MP Andy Burnham, among others, if we have the temerity to vote to free ourselves from an institution which is well past its sell-by date.
One thing was missing though, and that’s mention of the prospect of the entry of Turkey into the EU.
Today I heard that the Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has clamped down on Turkey’s biggest newspaper, another attack on free speech in a country not known for its liberal view.
And the EU’s response? Very muted as it’s relying on Turkey to act as a barrier to the great influx of refugees, both real and economic, from surrounding countries.
A big problem for me is that Turkey lies in Asia Minor, not Europe.
Who is next to be invited – Iraq? Iran?
It also has a population of about 75 million predominantly Muslim citizens, whereas Europe’s heritage is Christian and democratic.
I can understand why those wishing to remain have kept quiet about it, but I’m surprised the ‘Brexit’ faction has kept silent. Perhaps it’s a fear of being targeted as a racist/bigot/Islamophobe etc.
Turkey began talks in 2005, and while there is opposition within Europe to Turkey’s membership would anyone trust our leaders to reject outright a bid for Turkey to join?
Turkey still prosecutes its own citizens who write about the great genocide of 1915 when up to one-and-a-half million Christian Armenians were slaughtered all across the nation.
Even today religious minorities still need protection from an intolerant government, particularly if you’re a Christian.
For me there are too many risks associated with remaining an EU member country, particularly if Turkey was to be admitted.
Even with a degree of uncertainty as to what the future outside it may hold, I’ll be voting to leave the EU.
Paul Langin, Hindsford, Atherton
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