HDP co-chair slams Erdoğan over abusing religion, Quran

ANKARA

AA Photo

Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) co-chairman Selahattin Demirtaş has criticized President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for exploiting religion and the Muslims’ holy book, the Quran, while equally slamming the religious directorate for remaining silent on the issue. 

“God did not send the Quran for you [Erdoğan] to make your own advertisement. You should know your place. And there was no voice from the Diyanet [the Directorate of Religious Affairs]… He uses the Quran in a public rally,” Demirtaş said in his address in the eastern Anatolian province of Elazığ, as part of his election campaign for the upcoming polls. 

Demirtaş referred to Erdoğan’s public rally in Siirt, another eastern Anatolian town with a sizeable population of Turkish citizens of Kurdish origin, in which he had introduced the Quran in Kurdish. The HDP’s co-chairman argued it was the only copy published in Kurdish and that it was not done by the Diyanet either, but rather by a private foundation. “Those who exploit this religion will pay God back,” he said.   

Criticizing Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu for benefiting from the state and for using state planes, Demirtaş complained the HDP were trying to compete against the state but also vowed they will be successful in the polls, despite all obstructions.  

In the case the HDP cannot pass the 10 percent election threshold, Davutoğlu will lose his seat as prime minister, Demirtaş said.  

“Mr. Davutoğlu, do openly say if you are against the presidential system,” he said.