Kılıçdaroğlu: CHP not against religion

Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu met with Muslim religious leaders in a fast-breaking dinner on July 12 in a move to break “the perception that the CHP is against religion.”

Kılıçdaroğlu has said peace must prevail in Anatolia, saying “Our belief is the tree. Our paths, branches are separate, but our root is the same. Let’s get rid of our prejudices.” He added that “the perception that the CHP is against religion is very wrong.”

The CHP leader also referred to the fact that the name of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, modern Turkey’s founder, was taken out of the sermons in mosques.

“It is impossible to understand that. [They blame] Atatürk for everything,” he said, adding Atatürk gave everything he had for the nation. “But we need to tell the people what Atatürk really did for the country.”
Kılıçdaroğlu also touched on the Dec. 17, 2013 graft probe and the alleged involvement of ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) members without naming any names.

“Nobody, in accordance with their beliefs, should support those who lie, who steal,” he said. “There are people who say, ‘Well, they steal, but they work, too.’ There is no such thing in Islam. That’s unacceptable.”