Turkish MP: “Detentions, Sound Of The Footsteps Of The Coming Shari’a”

Independent MP Kamer Genc described the detentions of Ilhan Selcuk and Dogu Perincek as “shocking” and “grave” and said that this is the sound of the footsteps of the coming Shari’a. Speaking at a press conference Genc said that Ilhan Selcuk was a pioneer of enlightment and demanded respect for freedom of press. He said, “They [AKP] call this ‘Ergenekon investigation’. What is this, let them clarify. I as an MP don’t know anything about this Ergenekon. Is this a gang of robbery, fraud or a shari’a gang? What was done to Selcuk and Perincek today is nothing but the rumbling of the footsteps of those who want to make a shari’a coup in our country”.

The independent MP Ufuk Uras reacted to Ilhan Selcuk's detention by saying that such threatening actions against journalists are hurting the public conscience and creating concerns about the judiciary. He added, “These moves should be consistent with the law and fundamentals of democracy. Such anti-democratic and threatening behaviors create question marks in the minds of the people".

Source: Hurriyet, all Turkish dailies, March 21, 2008

Posted at: 2008-03-21

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