Harsh words from Erdoğan to Saraçhane protesters during iftar speech: 'Degenerates with corrupt mouths and morals'

Stating that Turkey has one of the best-functioning democracies in the world, Erdoğan defined seeking rights as "lawlessness" and arresting those who seek their rights as a "legal struggle," adding, "We will hold those responsible for lawlessness accountable within the framework of the law."

Erdoğan attended the "Iftar Program with University Youth" held at the Presidential Palace and made statements regarding the current agenda.

Stating, "My dream is a youth that possesses the discernment to distinguish between the fake and the real, that shapes the times, and that manages to be itself under all conditions," Erdoğan targeted young people exercising their right to protest against the AKP government's arbitrary practices, saying, "This youth is not one that sets these streets on fire, destroys, or—pardon me—has a corrupt mouth and morals; it is a youth that is a symbol of decency and dignity with its stance."

Addressing the participants by saying, "We are now guests of your time. You are the future of Turkey. You will live in the climate of trust and peace of the Century of Turkey," Erdoğan continued his words as follows:

"One of the sole goals of myself and my fellow cause-members in this narrow world is to leave you a strong and prosperous Turkey. Everything we did, we did for this. We thwarted many schemes for this. We broke the shackles on our country's feet for this. We raised the standards of our democracy for this. We lifted the shadow of tutelage for this. We fought decisively against terrorist organizations for this. We are striving to reach our goal of a terror-free Turkey for this. They turned our youth against each other."

"WE ARE A BIG FAMILY"

Stating that "very insidious games were played to pit brother against brother," Erdoğan said, "They pointed to the streets as the address. They fueled the conflict. They escalated the tension and increased the anger. They scratched at differences. They darkened not only the future of our youth but also our nation. Just to protect their own interests, to add money to their money and success to their political careers, they did not hesitate to spend the sapling-like young people of this country like loose change."

Regarding our political view, Erdoğan said, "As 85 million, we are a big family. Whatever our sect or disposition, we are all brothers and neighbors," and used the expressions, "Even if our names are different, our surname is one, and that is the Republic of Turkey. We have nowhere else to go but this homeland. We have no choice but to be one, to be together, to be alive, and to be Turkey all together."

LABELING CITIZENS PARTICIPATING IN PROTESTS AS "DEGENERATES WITH CORRUPT MOUTHS AND MORALS"

Referring to the citizens who took to the streets to protest the events following the conviction of CHP's presidential candidate and Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, Erdoğan said, "We are going through very sensitive days."

Describing the citizens who took to the streets as "degenerates with corrupt mouths and morals," Erdoğan addressed the youth in the hall as follows:

"We will not fall for provocations. We will not enter dark paths that could end in disaster. We will not be fooled by the cheap politics of cowards who hide behind young people to cover up their own filth. We will never be extras in their scenarios. We will seek accountability for lawlessness within the framework of the law. We did not find this country on the street, we did not establish it easily, and we did not bring it to this point easily. We cannot surrender this heavenly homeland to street terrorism. I want you to be vigilant. I want you to be very, very careful against degenerates with corrupt mouths and morals."

"ONE OF THE BEST-FUNCTIONING DEMOCRACIES IN THE WORLD"

Stating that Turkey has one of the best-functioning democracies in the world, Erdoğan continued his remarks:

"If a thousandth of the vandalism and insults displayed in our country were committed in Western countries, see what would happen to the perpetrators. They would immediately finish off those who basely attack the police, members of the judiciary, and state officials, and they would never see the light of day again. If some people mean exploiting municipalities and public resources by hiding behind the ballot box while talking about democracy, we have no such understanding of democracy. If they mean burning and destroying streets, the courtyards of our historical mosques, and the tombstones of our ancestors, or consuming alcohol in our places of worship when they talk about freedom, we will not be there under any circumstances. If someone says, 'I will attack the police of this country with stones, acid, Molotov cocktails, and axes, and no one can interfere with me,' we cannot treat this within the scope of rights and freedoms."

Erdoğan said, "We have not allowed anyone to set an ambush for the will of the nation, and we will not allow it from now on," and added, "I invite everyone to know their limits and not to cross the line from seeking rights to insults and vandalism."

Erdoğan concluded his remarks by stating, "There is no destination for those who terrorize the streets and want to turn this country into a place of fire. The path they have taken is a dead end. I reiterate here that we will not allow our youth to be used by the corrupt and thieves who turn politics into a tool for rent-seeking."

News Source: 12punto