May 23, 2010 - 16:50 AMT
Turkish opposition leader accuses Erdogan of creating an “empire of fear”

Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the newly elected chairman of the Republican People’s Party, or CHP has slammed the activity of the ruling AK Party and its leader, Prime Minister Recep Tayyp Erdogan, Hurriyet Daily News reported.

Kilicdaroglu said the “country’s values were turned upside-down during the rule of the Justice and Development Party, or AKP, which he said harmed law and democracy.”

“The AKP came to power in a bid to fight corruption and make people wealthy but they enriched only themselves,” he said.

Kilicdaroglu also criticized the AKP for creating an “empire of fear,” saying that the public was concerned about wiretaps and similar practices.

“Is this fascism or democracy? We will end this fascism. Nobody including the media and NGOs can criticize Erdoğan and the AKP for fear of the ruling government,” Kilicdaroglu said. “As far I know, governments can be criticized. We will end this empire of fear.”