Gov't turns up heat on CHP's justice march, links it with 'terrorist organizations'

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has intensified its rhetoric against the main opposition Republican People's Party's (CHP) "justice march" from Ankara to Istanbul, claiming that it is "susceptible to the abuse of terrorist actions." 

"The steps of this march, which members of the separatist terrorist organization [the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party] and FETÖ [the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization] are applauding and walking with, are not the steps of the people. This march is not a justice march, it is a negligence march," Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım said on July 4 at the "opening ceremony" of a road in Istanbul. 

"With this march, [CHP head Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu] at least has the opportunity to understand the quality of the roads that we have built. I can advise him to walk to the Yavuz Sultan Selim road while heading to Istanbul from Kocaeli," he said. 

"And if you continue to walk, you will not be able to finish all the roads [we have built] in one lifespan. We have built 20,000 kilometers of road and you have only completed 400 kilometers in 19 days," Yıldırım added.

"The place to seek justice is not the roads, it is the parliament, the courts," he added.

'Marginal groups will head to streets' 

AKP Deputy Chair Nurettin Canikli also said in an interview on CNN Türk on July 4 that Kılıçdaroğlu is "abetting terrorist organizations."

"That march will not boost the CHP. Marginal forces have stepped in and they will continue to do so.

 Terrorist groups will head to the streets. This type of environment is a golden opportunity for them," Canikli said.

Referring to concerns over "provocations" as the cortege approaches Istanbul, Canikli said "it is...