Turkish President Erdo?an slams women protesting Özgecan's murder by dancing

President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an has harshly criticized some women?s organizations who have protested the killing of Özgecan Aslan by dancing, saying it was not a part of Turkish culture.

?They were supposedly protesting the death of our Özgecan by dancing. What kind of thing it this? Say the Surah Al-Fatihah if you know it. Give your condolences to her family. But she was dancing instead.

What place does this have in our culture? It?s like enjoying death,? Erdo?an said in his first public response to the murder of Özgecan Aslan on Feb. 16.

He was referring to a protest held by a group of women, including Aylin Nazl?aka, a woman lawmaker from the ranks of the Republican People?s Party (CHP), who took part in an event to raise their voices against rape, sexual harassment and violence against women by singing songs and dancing on Feb. 14. 

In a long address to Turkish contractors and businessmen, Erdo?an vowed to be closely involved in the trial process of the three killers, who he said must be given the heaviest penalty.

?The perpetrators of this nefarious massacre have been arrested. I will personally follow the case so that they will be given the heaviest penalty. I am already following the case,? he said.

Twenty-year-old university student Özgecan Aslan was killed last week by Suphi Alt?ndöken, who then tried to burn her body with the help of his father and a friend. Alt?ndöken has confessed that he tried to rape Aslan, after she boarded the minibus he was driving in the southern province of Mersin. He said that after the attempted rape he stabbed her to death before burning her body.

President Erdo?an and his wife, Emine Erdo?an, conveyed their condolences to Aslan?s parents over the phone on Feb....