Turkey good model for new Arab states

The majority of people in the Arab world believe the post-revolutionary states in the Middle East region should model their political systems on Turkey's, according to the latest opinion poll commissioned by The Doha Debates. Seventy-two percent of respondents believe Turkey is a good model for the new Arab states which include Egypt, Tunisia and Libya, a media statement released Saturday by the Press Office of the Qatar Foundation said. The area with the highest number of people opposed to Turkey as a model was 35% in the Levant - the eastern region of the Mediterranean. The poll findings contradict the results of the latest Doha Debate held in Istanbul, Turkey, on February 12 in which 59% of the audience said Turkey was a bad model for the new Arab states. The main reasons those surveyed gave for supporting the Turkish model were because Turkey is "close to the Arab world in respect to culture, religion and traditions", Turkey has become a well-respected country and the Turkish model has integrated Islam into politics which "fits into the needs of the Arab world". However, despite a high level of support for the Turkish model, a significant number of those polled were also sceptical of the motives of Islamists. Around 45 percent expressed concerns that Islamists will adopt the Turkish model so they can introduce their beliefs into government under the banner of religion. The poll, conducted by the polling company YouGov between January 29 and February 2, earlier this month, questioned 1001 people. The Doha Debates are hosted and funded by the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development.