Erdogan: Zionist ideology targets all of Turkey

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has issued a stark warning to the Turkish people, asserting that "Zionist ideology," which he characterized by genocide, occupation, and expansionism, is targeting the entire nation. Speaking at a Justice and Development Party (AKP) event on Saturday, Erdogan emphasized that the struggle against this ideology is not for personal or group gain but for the survival of Turkey and its citizens.

Erdogan also used the platform to strongly defend the hijab, calling it an authentic and natural part of Turkish identity. He recounted his party's long-standing efforts to secure the right for students and women to wear the headscarf, which he said had previously been prohibited. "The hijab is not something foreign, not something on the fringes, nor is it a form of extremism or a symbol of a particular sect or ideology," Erdogan stated. He asserted that in its various forms, the hijab has been a natural element in the country for the past millennium and will remain so.

“

Because of this, when we fight against Zionism, this struggle is not for our personal or group interests, but for the survival of the state and all of Turkey's people.

In his address, the president also turned his criticism towards the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP). He accused the CHP of transforming political competition into animosity, policy differences into polarization, and disagreements into conflict, consistently profiting from societal tensions. Erdogan cited the CHP's recent campaign against Syrian refugees during the presidential election as a prime example of this divisive approach. Furthermore, he defended his government's purges of state institutions of individuals affiliated with the Fethullah Gülen Terrorist Organization (FETO), framing these actions as necessary for the nation's interests and future.

Concluding his speech, Erdogan highlighted his government's ongoing development projects, including infrastructure like highways, bridges, and tunnels, as well as advancements in housing, the defense industry, education, health, and energy sectors. He reiterated that these initiatives are solely for the benefit of all Turkish citizens, not specific groups.

“

In its various forms, the hijab is part of the natural condition in this country for the last thousand years, and it will remain so.