'The doors of AK Party organizations must be like the doors of a dervish lodge': Erdoğan speaks at his party's congress

In his speech at the 8th Ordinary Provincial Congress of Kocaeli held at the Şehit Polis Recep Topaloğlu Sports Hall, Erdoğan said that they would continue to provide all kinds of support to further develop, grow, and advance Kocaeli.

Stating that they remind both themselves and the nation of this fact at every opportunity, Erdoğan said, "The AK Party is an organization that was founded, grown, and brought to this day by those who have a cause, a concern, and a dream, beyond being just a political party. Whoever evaluates the AK Party within the limits of the classical party functioning accepted in the world and acts accordingly is severely mistaken. We are all witnessing how those who read politics only in this way experience drifts in their own internal operations, in the municipalities they manage, and in their international relations."

"THEY HAVE COMPLETELY SEVERED THEIR TIES WITH THE HOMELAND"

President Erdoğan expressed that the end of these drifts is to first become alienated from one's own country, nation, history, culture, and faith, and then to become an enemy, saying, "We encounter such dire situations that one is engaged in politics in this country, eats the bread of this nation, carries the identity of this state, but you see them openly acting with hostility toward the country and the nation. They look at events not from a Turkey-centered perspective, but through the windows of other capitals, as if they are wielding their swords. They have completely severed their ties with the nation, the values of the nation, and the homeland. They steer their rudder wherever the wind blows."

Erdoğan stated that these segments have no constants, principles, or ideals for which they would endure hardships, and noted that when their mistakes are pointed out to them, they do not learn a lesson and continue to make the same mistakes.

"WE WILL HOLD OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE BEFORE THE TRUTH AND THE PEOPLE HOLD US ACCOUNTABLE"

Saying that he wants one issue to be known, Erdoğan said, "The AK Party, which was founded by the nation and brought to this day by the nation, has never been like this, and it will not be. We will do whatever is necessary to ensure it does not become so. We will hold ourselves accountable before the Truth and the people hold us accountable. We will never, ever be afraid to question our own egos and ask ourselves, 'Where is our fault?' By seeking the deficiency, the mistake, and the sin in ourselves rather than in others, we will follow the path of truth, reality, and righteousness. Look, I am saying this very clearly: The cause that the AK Party represents is a cause of civilization. This cause is the cause of building a great and powerful Turkey. This cause is the cause of being a hope for the oppressed and putting an end to tyranny. This cause is the cause of justice, freedom, and a dignified life for all together."

President Erdoğan emphasized that they would not spend this sacred cause like small change for the sake of daily politics, as some do, nor would they exploit, twist, or bend it, and that they would firmly uphold the ancient values that keep the nation standing, without hesitating to pay the price if necessary.

Stating that they would not compromise even a millimeter on their dreams and goals regarding Turkey, Erdoğan said, "We will tie our hearts to the Truth, lean our backs on the nation, and turn our faces to all of humanity. We will not let ego, arrogance, pride, hypocrisy, envy, or a poisonous tongue enter our doors. We will embrace every one of our people, with all their segments, beliefs, and sects, with a sincere, selfless, genuine, hopeful, heart-winning, and solution-oriented approach."

President Erdoğan continued his speech as follows:

"Do not forget this, my dear brothers and sisters: The doors of AK Party organizations, from the town to the district, from the province to the headquarters, must be open to everyone who comes, just like the door of a dervish lodge. Undoubtedly, we have no business with terrorists, traitors, thieves, or the shameless. Their path never crosses with the AK Party anyway. Apart from that, we are determined to continue our politics of works and services by embracing everyone with affection. Look, what does the poet say? 'I tied my ego to a chain and halter, I hung the world on the wall, come and see. I cast comfort and peace aside, I pressed the suffering to my bosom, come and see. I walked and became a flood, I stood and became a lake. I became a nimble tongue for the oppressed and the victim. I became a cool breeze in the heat of tyranny. I blew from heart to heart, come and see.' Yes, without chaining our egos, without casting comfort and peace aside, without becoming the voice of the victim and the oppressed, and without blowing from heart to heart, we cannot be worthy of the cause that the AK Party represents."