period. He has drawn upon his knowledge of Western philosophy, Marxist sociology, and radical Islamist political theory to advocate a modern Islamic perspective that does not hesitate to criticize genuine societal ills while simultaneously remaining faithful to the ethical values and spiritual dimensions of religion. Özel, a Marxist convert to Islam: "I did not consider myself a part of the society I was in—but as a candidate for the courageous and uncompromising defense of the cause of the just." İsmet Özel, an ex-Marxist convert and the most prominent Islamist intellectual, argued that it was Atatürk's reforms that, ironically Islamicized Turkey by forcing people to internalize and value their religious identity and not simply take it for granted as in the past. According to him, "Muslim is a terrorist. The first duty of the Muslim is to be a terrorist. Infidels will be afraid of Muslims. When they are not afraid, a Muslim is not a Muslim." He stated that "I accept that by being a Muslim, the entire non-Muslim world is lower than me. So I am a Muslim and everyone who is not a Muslim is a lower person than me. As with all other religions, they can only be tolerated as a human, if not Muslim." He wrote a poem titled, Of not being a Jew, in which he lamented the fact that he felt like a pursued Jew, but had no second country to go to. "Your load is heavy / He's very heavy / Just because he's your brother / Your brothers are your pogroms / When you reach the doorsteps of your friends / Starts your Diaspora," he wrote. "As a political system in Turkey, socialism is possible, Turkism is probable, Islam is certain", however in a recent article he defended the isolation of Muslims from the society unless they adapt to the secular democracy, and emphasized Islam as a political system in Turkey is dead. Bibliography Poetry Geceleyin Bir Koşu (A Run in the Night) Evet, İsyan (Yes, Rebellion) Cinayetler Kitabı (The Book of Murders) Celladıma Gülümserken (When I Smile at My Executioner) Erbain (The Poems of 40 Years) Bir Yusuf Masalı (A Yusef Fairytale) Çatlıycak Kadar Aşkî (Enough Love to Crack) Of Not Being A Jew Books Üç Mesele (Three Problems) Zor Zamanda Konuşmak (Speaking in Hard Times) Taşları Yemek Yasak (It is Prohibited to Eat the Stones) Bakanlar ve Görenler (Lookers and