Which country is culturally more similar to Turkey: Greece or Pakistan?

[Shah-Jehan]

But in terms of their values and attitudes, Greeks and Turks are still worlds apart.

Not really, but they are not historically the most friendly of nations to each other, so can differ in a lot of ideologies naturally. Also, in an individualistic sense, Greece is relatively big, Turkey is bigger and diverse and Pakistan is even bigger and more diverse. You can't really compare social attitudes as a whole, for e.g., one's social attitude living in a village in Waziristan can be quite different from urban Punjab like Lahore or Islamabad. Social attitudes also don't define culture anyway.

[Tooting Carmen]

Countries ranked by LGBT rights. Turkey is higher than Russia.

But still well below Greece (which itself is lower-ranking than much of the rest of Europe).

[Pennywise]

Even though many Turks like to think of/portray their country as much more liberal and Westernised than most other Islamic countries, and I myself used to believe it, especially after visiting Istanbul (I saw rather fewer women wearing hijabs there than in many British cities), much of this is gradually being reversed under Erdogan's regime, which at different points has even tried to ban adultery and alcohol. More generally, various global surveys show that Turks' attitudes towards religion and sexuality are rather more similar to Pakistanis than to Greeks or any other European country, hence why I ask the question.

And this supposed to prove Turkey became closer to Pakistan only in 15 years under Erdogan regime? Are you sure you know what is Pakistan and where it is?

[Dandelion]

But in terms of their values and attitudes, Greeks and Turks are still worlds apart.

Not saying Turks are like Greeks, but we're talking about Pakistan here.

[Myanthropologies]

I'd say equally distant from both, because you have to factor in the fact that Greeks and Pakistanis share minor cultural similarities as well. Greeks speak an indo-European language while Turks don't. Turks and Greeks eat kebabs, and I think Pakistanis do too (but I'm not sure). I know that Turks, Greeks, and Pakis all eat Baklava, play some similar instruments, etc. Technically Greeks and Pakis are linguistically closer to each other than Greeks and Turks are too. I also don't think that Greeks would share much with say, Turkish Kurds.

[Tooting Carmen]

And this supposed to prove Turkey become closer to Pakistan only in 15 years under Erdogan regime? Are you sure you know what is Pakistan and where is it is?

No, but what I am questioning is the notion that Turkey is so much more liberal, secular and Westernised than other Islamic countries (especially Pakistan).

[Myanthropologies]

Also Turkey and Pakistan are both Muslim, which factors into culture a lot.

[Tooting Carmen]

Not saying Turks are like Greeks, but we're talking about Pakistan here.

OK, perhaps I should have asked something much more concrete like: is the situation for women and gays in Turkey more comparable to Greece or to Pakistan?

[Profileid]

LOL at people's answers here. If Turks were so similar to Greeks, then why do Turkish communities in European countries (including Greece) generally integrate so badly?

Why the fuck do you care either way?
The only thing Turkey and Pakistan have in common is being inhabited by brown people.

[Myanthropologies]

Lol, Turkey is far from being the most liberal/European like Muslim country. Kazakhstan, Morocco, and Azerbaijan are much much closer to that. However, Turkey is still better than most.