Erdogan Insults Veiled Women, Opposition Demands Apology

The repercussions of the statements made by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, two days ago, about veiled women who support the opposition, are still interacting today, Sunday.

These statements opened a wave of criticism that did not subside, in the face of the leader of the ruling Justice and Development Party in the country.

The leader of the Democracy and Progress Party (DEVA), Ali Babacan, described those statements as outdated, saying in a tweet on his account, yesterday, Saturday: "The president and his politicians who are trying to evaluate people according to their race, beliefs, clothes, language and standard of living, are outdated politicians."

In turn, the leader of the Turkish opposition, Kemel Kılıçdaroğlu, demanded Erdogan to apologize to the veiled women, adding, “He should come out and apologize to all women. No woman can be a show adornment.”

"We will come to power with our friends, we do not have time to discuss anyone's lifestyle, and we will not do that," he added in an interview with the Turkish channel "Khalq TV."

Moreover, the head of the Turkish opposition Al-Khair Party, Miral Aksener, criticized the Turkish president's statements, noting that "The people are tired of Erdogan's dirty mentality," according to her description.

Aksener said, in a tweet yesterday, “Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, after 386 women were killed in our country last year; you are now insulting women without feeling ashamed. Go do your work first and keep the women safe. The nation is really tired of this dirty mindset. ”

It is noteworthy that Erdogan attacked the leader of the opposition, Kılıçdaroğlu, after performing Friday prayers at the Hagia Sophia Mosque in Istanbul.

“You see him in some places to get votes, as a number of veiled women attend next to him, such as fashion models,” Erdogan said. 

“He cannot fool anyone, these things are over,” he added. 

These statements sparked widespread criticism by the opposition parties, which for several months have been directing their criticism of the Turkish president's policy, both abroad and internally.