Erdogan in Cambridge

[utopia]

Who thought it appropriate for this warmonger and Islamist to come to Cambridge to open the mosque?

In December 1997 in Siirt, Erdoğan recited a poem from a work written by Ziya Gökalp, a pan-Turkish activist of the early 20th century.[59] His recitation included verses translated as "The mosques are our barracks, the domes our helmets, the minarets our bayonets and the faithful our soldiers...."[40] which are not in the original version of the poem. Erdoğan said the poem had been approved by the education ministry to be published in textbooks.[60] Under article 312/2 of the Turkish penal code his recitation was regarded as an incitement to violence and religious or racial hatred.[61] He was given a ten-month prison sentence of which he served four months, from 24 March 1999 to 27 July 1999.[6] Due to his conviction, Erdoğan was forced to give up his mayoral position. The conviction also stipulated a political ban, which prevented him from participating in parliamentary elections.[62] He had appealed for the sentence to be converted to a monetary fine, but it was reduced to 120 days instead.[63] In 2017, this period of Erdoğan's life was made into a film titled Reis.[64]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recep_Tayyip_Erdo%C4%9Fan#Imprisonment

[Jerry1971]

I find it absolutely extraordinary that the leaders of the new Cambridge Mosque, and therefore the leaders of a religion which is broadly, and described consistently, as peaceful, could invite Erdogan to conduct the opening of the new building. I think that the President made a significant contribution towards it, but all the same, it strikes me as a very mixed message.

I think the new Mosque is a terrific building, and it is only right that our Muslim community (and the wider community too as the Mosque is open to everyone) have a suitable home, meeting place and place of worship. The previous facilities on Mawson Road were somewhat shabby to say the least, and far too small, but all the same, the Erdogan involvement really doesn't sit at all well with me.

[animal]

On the plus side, his motorcade was a thing of great brilliance. Dibble on bikes holding up the traffic, Hummer type armoured, blacked out goon-mobiles, sirens blaring!
More Fuzz than visit from Chelsea in the 70's.

[brucebaldrey]

I still find it staggering that it's 2019 and religion still exists.

[pappasmurf]

Personally I find the fact that moslems in Cambridge took Suadi Arabia's donation worse than Turkey's. Wahhabism , which is what they practice, is vile.