Islamic pundit’s remarks anger Turkish atheists

The Atheism Association, a newly founded body bidding to protect the rights of non-believers, has filed a judicial complaint against Nihat Hatipoğlu, a religious pundit, for comments during a broadcast, claiming that he was “libelous and provoked people with hatred and hostility via the press.”  

A group from the association said in front of an Istanbul court Aug. 13 that Hatipoğlu tried to depict atheists as “sons of the devil,” “worshippers of the devil” and “those responsible for all bad things in society,” while he was speaking during a Ramadan program on a TV channel July 14.

The members also filed a complaint about the executives of the private broadcaster.

Lawyer Mehmet Emin Uçbağla said Hatipoğlu was bidding to “marginalize” and “humiliate” atheist people.

“Every atheist seeks refuge in God in need. I do not believe that any atheist is negating God. Those who say so are lying. Because all of them say ‘Allah’ when they are in trouble. When they are helpless, they say ‘my God, my Lord’ as they seek God,” Hatipoğlu said during a Ramadan program in Istanbul’s historical Sultanahmet neighborhood.

“Even the devil does not negate God. ‘God created me from fire,’ it says. ‘You created me,’ it says, so it is aware. The devil is the biggest father of the atheists,” he said.

In a program next day, Hatipoğlu also said the devil convinced atheists not to believe in God, meaning that it is their leader.