Most Turks back EU entry despite suspicions - study

By Ayla Jean Yackley

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - A majority of Turks support their government's bid to join the European Union, but most say the bloc views it with prejudice because Turkey is a Muslim nation, a new study showed.

Three out of four Turks believe the EU is trying to divide Turkey and 81 percent believe the bloc's goal is to spread Christianity, said the study by Bahcesehir University in Istanbul, released at a weekend conference.

Despite this, 57 percent want full EU membership for Turkey, according to the study, which also gauged Turks' tolerance towards religion, ethnic groups, gender equality and foreign countries.

"A majority of Turks still want EU membership, but a larger majority has very serious doubts about the EU's intentions towards Turkey," said Yilmaz Esmer, a professor of political science at Bahcesehir who led the study.

The study, called "Public Attitudes Towards Diversity, Tolerance and Extremism in Turkey", was conducted between April 12 and May 3 and polled 1,715 people in 34 Turkish provinces.

Strongest opposition to EU entry came from the 15- to 18-year-old age group, Esmer said.

One out of four Turks thinks Turkey is either already a full member of the EU or is unsure of its status, he said. Turkey has in fact been an official candidate for EU membership for 10 years and has completed only one of the 35 'chapters' in the accession process.