Luxury forbidden in Islam: HDP co-chair Demirtaş

ISTANBUL – Doğan News Agency

AFP Photo

Luxury is forbidden in Islam, Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) co-chair Selahattin Demitaş has said in again attacking the head of the Religious Affairs Directorate (Diyanet) for accepting a luxury official car from the president, noting that the Mercedes will be of no use come doomsday.

“I call those who say the cost of a car used by state officials is ‘peanuts.’ This much luxury is forbidden in Islam. I ask [Diyanet head Mehmet] Görmez in particular: He will be given a luxury and armored Mercedes … with your [citizens’] money … I want to ask him if the armor of this Mercedes protects him from sins. Here in Bağcılar are a lot of poor people. I guess most people do not have enough money in their pockets to afford a kilogram of meat. This is the reality but not something to be ashamed of. This is a shame of the government,” said Demirtaş at his party’s election rally in the Bağcılar district of Istanbul on May 24.

He criticized the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) government for using state resources and budgets for personal purposes, as well as for discriminating between the AKP’s voters and those who do not vote for it.

Demirtaş also addressed newly graduated teachers who remain unappointed and are only able to work on temporary contracts. “Teachers working under contracts get around 1,000 Turkish Liras [a month]. This amount is the price of a glass used in the Ak Saray,” said Demirtaş, referring to the newly built presidential palace.