That is just what the government fears. Its draft finance law ends tax breaks and federal insurance exemptions for six Islamic financial institutions. Those perks have allowed them to lend cheaply to Islamic firms. Islam forbids interest earnings, but Turkey's Islamic financial institutions offer profit-sharing deals to skirt the ban. The law, which is expected to be approved by Parliament in the next few months, would allow regular banks to offer no-interest accounts as well, opening up the market for strict believers' savings.
Islamic companies insist they pose no such threat.
We don't select our customers based on their religions. Customers of such companies are devout Muslims seeking increased religious influence in their daily life. I want my money go to Muslims. That is up 1 percent from the year before. Last summer, the military ordered its units to stop purchasing goods or accepting bids from companies known for their Islamic politics.