Turkish PM accuses prosecutors and police of spying

ISTANBUL

Prime Minister Erdoğan adresses his supporters during a rally in the southern province of Burdur. AA Photo

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has hit back against unprecedented accusations of corruption after the leak of incriminating phone conversations, accusing both prosecutors and police of spying for another country.“The most confidential information of my country is being wiretapped by spies working for other countries and published while the prosecutors and judges of this country remain indifferent to that,” said Erdoğan during a rally in the southern province of Burdur yesterday ahead of next month’s local elections.“The police officer sent to me and promoted chief [while working] in my office, meanwhile, places bugs in the most private place and wiretaps me,” Erdoğan said.He also referred to reports this week claiming that at least 2,280 politicians, civil servants, scholars, journalists, business leaders and artists had been wiretapped by prosecutors.“I am openly asking the prosecutor. For which country did you do these wiretappings? I am also asking the police, those who were involved in this case. For which country did you make these wiretappings?” Erdoğan asked.Erdoğan accuses the movement of U.S.-based Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen of orchestrating the massive graft probe targeting his government, but usually refers to the group through indirect terms such as the “parallel state.”The ongoing turmoil in the country increased this week, with the prime minister facing unprecedented accusations of corruption after the leak of incriminating phone conversations between himself and his son, in the wake of the initial police raids conducted Dec. 17.Erdoğan has called the tape a fabrication and accused the Gülen movement of producing it, while the opposition has urged him to resign.During his electoral speech, Erdoğan also accused the Republican People’s Party (CHP) and the Gülen movement of collaborating over the latest leaked tapes. He also reiterated his call to the Islamic scholar to return to Turkey and confront the AKP with a political party.“If you haven’t done anything wrong, don’t stay in Pennsylvania. If your country is Turkey, return home. If you want to do politics, hit the streets and do it. But don’t stir disorder in this country, don’t disrupt its peace. Don’t get involved in provocative acts,” Erdoğan said, adding that the attack did not only target him personally but the whole country. “They have established an organization called Selam. They aim to publish and threaten people when the right time comes. This is blackmail.”Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has geared up his rhetoric against the movement of U.S. based Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, calling for a boycott of the movement’s schools.“Leave the prep schools and schools of [the movement]. Say: Public schools are enough for us,” Erdoğan said during a rally in the southern province of Burdur on Feb. 27.“Public schools will be enough. If parents want additional lessons for their children on the weekends, we will do it. They will be free of charge,” he added.Erdoğan accuses the Gülen movement of orchestrating the massive graft probe targeting his government, but usually refers to the group through indirect terms such as “parallel state.”The ongoing turmoil in the country increased this week, with the prime minister facing unprecedented accusations of corruption after the leak of incriminating phone conversations between himself and his son, in the wake of the initial police raids conducted on Dec. 17.Erdoğan has called the tape a fabrication and accused the Gülen movement over it, while the opposition has urged him to resign.