Turkish PM calls on Gülen to 'stop interfering in country'

ISPARTA

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Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has again harshly criticized Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen during a rally in the Anatolian province of Isparta, calling on Gülen to stop causing problems in Turkey and return to his homeland. 

“If you are honest and true, stop disturbing the country. If this is your country, come back.” Erdoğan said March 2.

He claimed that he was "pure in heart" when he once believed Gülen was an honest man, referring to the two figures' previous alliance. “There are pure people who gave their money, land and potential [to the movement]. They built schools and dormitories. I was pure at heart. I did what I could do, too. I thought he was genuine when I read his books. He sent me a rosary, but no pineapples,” he said.

Erdoğan also accused Gülen of supporting the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), but said the government would not surrender to any "blackmailing gang," accusing those who wiretapped politicians, journalists and businessmen of "blackmailing and threatening."

The prime minister targeted the CHP and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), saying the two parties were "soul mates."

“They put their heads together and were trying to harm the AKP with montaged records, because they could not manage it at ballot boxes," Erdoğan said.

The AKP has come into power with the support of the nation, not with recordings, and will leave in the same way, the prime minister vowed.