NEW FORCES IN ISLAM

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 972, 15 May 1930, Page 2

NEW FORCES IN ISLAM

A RELIGIOUS REVIVAL ft TURKEY FERVOUR OF RAMAZAH F«r The fervour which accompanied the celebration of the recent Ramazan fa! was proof of the reality of the ious revival in Turkey in will be remembered, hundreds j “tekkes" (male monasteries) closed and a ban was placed on De, vish congregations. Subsequently there was great indifference to -elie, ious matters throughout the country In many places Ramazan fasting no more observed and w deserted, except by tourists. py.* Government closed those mosqqe, which had no historical important. The difference which marked the last Ramazan is striking. At stunboul, in Pera, everywhere, thousand, of people flocked to the mosques where they attentively followed s« r ! mons by talented preachers, not i, Arabic, but in Turkish. During the past few months, too, an increasing number of Mussulmans in Stamboqj and in other towns have taken part in the foundation of secret sects. Bahaists also made their appearance. These sects were, however, broken uj by the police and their leaders sent to prison. The movement Is apparently a reap tion against the slackening of raords which followed the end of the war.