Death in Turkey

The founder of Turkey's Islamist Party has kicked it--as has the country's secularism. From onislam:

ISTANBUL - Thousands of Turks paid their respects on Tuesday, March 1, to former Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan, the founder of the country’s modern Islamic movement.

"Erbakan was a genius," 17-year-old student Talha Celik told Reuters as he tied a green ribbon with a Qur’anic inscription round his head.

"Though they had their differences, Erdogan followed in his path," he added, referring to current Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Thousands of Turks, including the country’s political leaders, attended the funeral of Erbakan, 85, who died on Sunday.

Somber music poured from loudspeakers outside Istanbul's 15th Century Fatih Mosque and street vendors sold scarves emblazoned with the message "Mujahid Erbakan".

Mourners chanted "Allahu Akbar", or "God is Great".

Erdogan and President Abdullah Gul, proteges of Erbakan, joined other leaders for prayers in front of the coffin, laid out in the mosque's courtyard and draped in green cloth adorned with Qur’anic verses...