AKP gov’t responsible for rise in terror and should resign: CHP leader

ANKARA

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Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu has accused the government of being responsible for the rise in jihadist terror in Turkey and called on it to resign, after 39 people were killed in an attack in an Istanbul nightclub on New Year’s Eve. 

“You [the government] are a government that aids and abets terrorist organizations,” Kılıçdaroğlu said on Dec. 3, speaking to CHP officials in the party’s weekly parliamentary group meeting.

Following the terrorist attack at the Reina nightclub on New Year’s Eve, the CHP leader slammed government for a lack of accountability and failing to prevent terrorist attacks.

“No one takes any responsibility. Nothing is clear. And the prime minister comes forward and says ‘These kinds of terrorist attacks will continue.’ He does not even say they will prevent them,” Kılıçdaroğlu said.

“Is this the way to rule a state? You should resign and admit that you cannot do it, admit that you cannot prevent terror,” he added.

Accusing the government of forming an “ideological affiliation” with terrorist organizations, the CHP head said the government’s foreign policy led the attacks.

“We have said many times not to intervene the interior affairs of another country, but they [the government] sent arms [to Syria] in trailers. Now all those arms are returning back to Turkey,” Kılıçdaroğlu said.

Recalling that the Turkish consulate in Mosul was occupied and 49 Turkish citizens were held hostage in June 2014, Kılıçdaroğlu noted that ISIL had recruited militants from 70 cities across Turkey.

“The former health minister even said ISIL militants who were wounded in Syria had sought medical treatment in Turkish hospitals. Then they returned to Syria with their weapons in their hands,” he said.

“On Aug. 12, 2012, an ISIL commander said ‘our equipment and supply have come through Turkey.’ Who was governing Turkey back then?” he added.