Erdogan: Zionist Ideology Targets All of Turkey

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned on Saturday that Zionist ideology targets the entire country of Turkey. Speaking at a Justice and Development Party (AKP) event, he stated that the ideology, built on genocide, occupation, and expansionism, does not only target him personally, the AKP, or the People’s Alliance coalition, but the entire Turkish nation. “Because of that, when we fight against Zionism, that struggle is not for our personal or group interests, but for the survival of the state and all the people of Turkey,” Erdogan said.

Erdogan also defended the right of women to wear the hijab, stating his party had fought for years to guarantee the rights of students and women who were previously banned from wearing it. He emphasised that the hijab is not something foreign, marginal, or a symbol of extremism or any particular ideology. “In its various forms, the hijab has been a normal part of life in this country for the last thousand years, and it will remain so,” he added.

The president criticised the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), accusing it of turning political competition into hostility and exploiting societal tensions. He cited a negative campaign against Syrian refugees during the last presidential election as a recent example. Erdogan also defended his government’s purge of state institutions from elements affiliated with the Fethullah Gülen Terrorist Organisation (FETO), stating it was done for the benefit of the state, the people, and Turkey’s future. He concluded by highlighting ongoing development projects, including highways, bridges, tunnels, housing, and advancements in the defence industry, education, health, and energy sectors, all aimed at serving the entire Turkish nation.