I didn’t jump on the rally for peace and against terror by Turkish Muslims in Germany because it's not the turning point that others deemed it to be. Zacht Ei as usual has some sobering commentary noting that the demonstrators represent a secular part of the Muslim world and that the Muslim community in Holland has kept a pretty low profile after the Van Gogh murder. Well, when it comes to denouncing terror and radicals tarnishing their good name, Muslims around the world have in general been pretty mum to date. And to the extent there have been such voices they are more likely to be found in the non-Arab segment of the Muslim universe.

The march in Germany however points to something I argued earlier and that is that an alliance - in whatever shape or form - between Western democracies and moderate Muslims is an essential ingredient to fight he war against jihadist terror. As controversial as it may seem at first, bringing Turkey into the European Union is a good example of how that might take shape. From that perspective Sunday’s march may be further evidence that Turkish Muslims are well worth partnering with.