Europe is a rotten continent, center of Nazism: President Erdoğan

ANKARA

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Europe is no longer the center of democracy and human rights but it is one of Nazism and oppression, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said, accusing European leaders of being surrounded by far-right politicians.“Europe has reached such a point. It’s finished; wasted away. But it will pay for it dearly, very dearly. All [the values] they have been defending for centuries have collapsed. I am clear on this. In the eyes of billions of people, Europe today is no longer the center of democracy, human rights and freedoms but it is one of oppression, violence and Nazism,” Erdoğan said at a rally in the western province of Balıkesir on April 6.He said Europe is a rotten continent. “Racist parties are twisting European leaders and governments around their fingers. Europe has nothing to tell us or the world.”Relations between Turkey and some EU countries severely strained in recent months after Germany and the Netherlands banned Turkish ministers from meeting Turks living there ahead of the April 16 referendum.Erdoğan criticized European countries for allowing rallies organized by supporters of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) while prohibiting Turkish ministers from entering those countries.Erdoğan also slammed Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu over the latter’s accusation that the failed July 15, 2016, putsch attempt was allowed to occur by the government, saying Kılıçdaroğlu only followed what alleged coup leader Fethullah Gülen said.“He is saying the president and PM are trying to cover up the July 15 coup attempt. Many people who are affiliated with the coup are in prison. Have you taken them to prison or have we? They are on trial now. They will be tried and they will pay whatever price the court decides,” he said.The president also told Kılıçdaroğlu to “have some dignity and a feeling of shame.”His comments came after the CHP leader issued a call on the government to reveal the political leg of the coup attempt, accusing the government of being reluctant about disclosing the AKP members who are affiliated with the Fetullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ). The admonition touched off a debate that has been continuing for two days.“They are trying to cover up the coup d’état. I will not allow that! I will ask for the account of 248 martyrs,” Kılıçdaroğlu said in the southern province of Kahramanmaraş on April 6, reiterating his earlier comments.Erdoğan rebuked Kılıçdaroğlu, accusing the CHP leader of acting alongside FETÖ, whose leader, Fetullah Gülen, resides in Pennsylvania.“The main opposition comes up with sophistry which was prompted by Pennsylvania as if they were actual arguments,” he said.“Your life is a lie,” he said, adding that Kılıçdaroğlu could not substantiate his accusations that it was a “controlled coup.”“If you consider everything that was handed to you as the document, you will be embarrassed before even finishing your sentence. He [Kılıçdaroğlu] smeared people with papers in his hand dozens of times before. All the things he has said have proved to be a lie,” he added.Underlining that the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and FETÖ were against the charter, Erdoğan also criticized Kılıçdaroğlu for accusing yeasayers of being terrorists, claiming that the ruling party was respectful toward both camps.“Since the day the referendum was confirmed, the terrorist barons in the Kandil [mountains where the headquarters of the PKK is believed to be] are making statements over and over. Kandil, İmralı [Prison where the leader of PKK is being held] and Pennsylvania are all saying ‘no.’ Since they are saying ‘no,’ isn’t there a problem here?” he asked.“I have never said such a thing. We are respectful to those who say ‘no,’ but we tell them the truth. We have such a duty,” he added.