* Photograph: Anadolu Agency
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President and Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke at the 48th Village and Neighborhood Heads (Mukhtars) Meeting in Ankara today (November 21).
In his speech, Erdoğan addressed both the operation that was launched against the academics and rights defenders and the judgement of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) on Peoples' Democratic Party's (HDP) imprisoned former Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtaş.
CLICK - ECtHR: Selahattin Demirtaş Should Be Released
At the weekly group meeting of his party yesterday, Erdoğan commented on the judgement by saying: "The judgements of the ECtHR are no concern of ours. We will make our counter-move and close the deal", implying that the judgements of the court are not binding for Turkey.
CLICK - Erdoğan: Judgements of ECtHR are No Concern of Ours
Erdoğan made the following remarks about the judgement today:
"Where are you, the ECtHR? Do you see it?"
"The ECtHR has pronounced a judgement against our country. What is this? Turkey has violated the rights of freedom, security and free trial in the lawsuit against the former chair of the party having relations with the terrorist organization PKK (Kurdistan Workers Party).
"Whichever city in Europe you go today, you see that the supporters of the terrorist organization have a free hand while our citizens who love their country and nation are pestered. Where are you, the ECtHR? Do you see all these? Do you have a judgement given against them?
"I am warning our European friends"
"I am warning our European friends. Those terrorists that you love so much... When you act against their interests, you can be sure that they will turn not only their hatreds and slogans, but also their weapons towards you.
"We say the following: You can give the decisions you like in your glass houses. You can have whatever vote you wish. We will continue doing what is necessary for the continuation and survival of our country and nation without compromising our status of a country of law."
"Those praising Gezi praise PKK and FETÖ as well"
President Erdoğan also addressed the operation that was launched against 13 academics and civil society representatives on November 16:
"He (Osman Kavala) is someone who financed the terrorists during Gezi incidents. He is in prison now. Who is behind him? The famous Hungarian Jew (George) Soros.
"The ones who praise Gezi would, overtly or covertly, praise the PKK as well, they would also support the FETÖ (Fethullahist Terrorist Organization, which is held responsible for staging the attempted coup on July 15, 2016). We experienced it at first hand: Gezi means standing against each and every work and project that would contribute to the development of Turkey." (AS/SD)
