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Erdoğan says calls to drink beer, listen to Mozart ‘epitome of fascism’
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Tuesday hit back at two opposition public figures who suggested having a drink and listening to classical music would do him good, Marxist news website SoL reported.
"Forcing the president to drink beer, listen to Mozart is the epitome of fascism,’’ the Turkish president said, in an apparent response to opposition Sözcü newspaper columnist Yılmaz Özdil and veteran actor Rutkay Aziz.
Özdil, during a TV program on opposition Halk TV last month, said he sincerely believed that Turkey would be ‘’in a better place’’ if Erdoğan, a devout Muslim, were to ever have enjoyed a cup of beer.
Aziz also made a comment regarding Turkey’s strongman during an interview where he praised a concert invitation by dissident pianist Say to Erdoğan.
"As long as he goes and listens to some Beethoven or Mozart... Maybe it will be good for him,’’ the 72-year-old veteran actor said.
"Telling women who wear the headscarf in this country to go back to Saudi Arabia is the most wretched form of fascism,’’ the Turkish president went on to say during his speech on Tuesday, noting that such beliefs are from the ‘’mindset of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP).’’
Long-time critic of Erdoğan, Say, in June of 2012 was charged with inciting hatred and public enmity, and with insulting "religious values."
Say was given a 10 month suspended sentence and eventually acquitted in 2016.
The award-winning composer in December invited the Turkish president to his concert on Jan. 18. Erdoğan has yet to respond.
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Originally Posted by Blondie
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