‘Making politics through religion is dangerous’: CHP head

YALOVA

Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu called on Western countries on March 15 and warned against conducting politics over religion as seen in the recent mosque attack in New Zealand that killed at least 49 people.

“Today [March 15] we have woken up with the saddening news from New Zealand which we condemn. Not only Muslims, but anyone with humanitarian feelings should condemn such an incident. We need to respect all faiths and identities of humanity. I am calling out to our Western friends as well. We have seen once again in New Zealand how dangerous it is to make politics through religion,” Kılıçdaroğlu said, in his speech at a meeting with representatives of NGOs, businessmen, trade chambers and village heads, in northwestern province of Yalova.

“Humanity paid some burdensome costs because of politics over religion. There were Hundred Years’ War in which the Christian community waged war amongst each other due to sectarianism,” he added.

The party leader reiterated the “bitter results” of World War II due to politics of Adolf Hitler’s “racist politics over identity”.

“There are still politicians who had not learned anything from history. If you plant grudge seeds to the genes of a society, the results will be catastrophic,” he said.

Kılıçdaroğlu also stressed that political institutions should be held separate from religion in order to prevent religion from becoming a tool for politics.

“Problems will not be solved with spiteful feelings and politics will not function well when its done over grudge and vengeance sentiments,” he added.

Islamic countries should stop and think for a moment about terrorism in their countries, Kılıçdaroğlı stressed.

“Even [terrorist organizations] weapons come countries which define themselves as civil. Islamic world should not fall into these kind of traps,” the party leader underlined.