HDP's Demirta? chastises gov't over day of mourning for Saudi king

Peoples? Democratic Party (HDP) co-leader Selahattin Demirta? has lamented the declaration of national mourning for Saudi Arabian King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, arguing the presence of holy sites in the Saudi territories does not automatically make the king a divine figure.

?Today, they declared national mourning. Of course, we have holy sites in the Saudi territories. Of course, we have our Prophet?s entrusts, which are of course assets of the Islamic world. However, is the Saudi king, the one who lives in the golden palace, holy too because of being on the holy land?? Demirta? said on Jan. 24, referring to Saudi Arabia being the birthplace of Islam and is home to the Muslim holy cities of Mecca and Medina.

As of Jan. 23, the Turkish government announced that it declared Jan. 24 a day of national mourning for bin Abdulaziz, who passed away early Jan. 23 at the age of 90.

?We declare Saturday, Jan. 24, a day of national mourning for bin Abdulaziz,? the Turkish Prime Ministry said in a written statement, shortly after bin Abdulaziz passed away.

The national flag was to be flown at half-mast across Turkey and at foreign delegations on Jan. 24, accordingly. President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an, meanwhile, delayed a planned trip to Somalia to attend bin Abdulaziz?s funeral.

While speaking at a HDP provincial congress, Demirta? argued bin Adbulaziz did not live according to the rules of Islam.

?He had 30 wives, 60 children and $20 million of wealth,? Demirta? said. ?God forgive him for his sins. Are we supposed to hold national mourning for him? No offense, we are not mourning. It is not our mourning. The king may be your king, but we do not recognize any kings. This country has 12 million subcontracted workers; the cost of...