By this statement, Erdogan gave support to his former advisor, Mehmet Metiner, who last week told Radikal daily that, “We used to be like Taliban.” These words of Metiner drew intensive reaction from the columnists of the Islamist section of Turkey.
While Metiner is still a target of these groups, Erdogan voiced support to him, saying that, “It is wrong to exploit religion. However we did this mistake in the past. We can not exploit religion in policy. This is one of our ‘red-lines’.”
After the statement of Erdogan, Metiner remarked that “This was an honest confession. Our words are similar.”
Ahmet Tasgetiren, the editor of Safak daily remarked about Erdogan’s confession that, “PM Erdogan criticized his own line. However, Metiner had spoken very generally at this point.”
Metiner, who became the target of the reaction among the Islamic press said, “I agree with and support the words of Erdogan’s. He is at peace with himself and as a result, he can make self-criticism. He is a Moslem individually, but as a leader, he has a democratic stance. The words of Erdogan show the changes of Turkey. “
