My goal is to die as a martyr, God willing: Turkey's energy minister

Turkish Energy Minister Taner Y?ld?z has expressed his desire to ?achieve martyrdom,? while commenting on allegations that his sons had paid fee to avoid military service.

?My goal is to be martyred, if Allah desires, for my religion, nation and country,? the minister said.

The issue is about one?s internal accounting and between him and Allah, the minister said.

The minister also dismissed allegations that his sons had paid an 18,000-Turkish Lira fee to avoid active military service, saying they had newly graduated and would perform their military service in due time. 

Consternation has been growing, particularly among the relatives of dead soldiers, at the perception that ministers? sons avoid military service. During a number of recent funerals, relatives have chanted for Bilal Erdo?an, the controversial son of President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an, to go to war instead of soldiers from poor families.

Police vote for HDP ?not democracy?

Y?ld?z also said it could not be termed democracy if a police officer voted for the Peoples? Democratic Party (HDP), claiming that officers linked to the Gülen Movement voted for the HDP in the June 7 elections.

?If a police officer voted for the HDP, only because of the parallel structure [Gülen movement], his hands have the blood of his martyred colleague on him. If one votes for the HDP, it?s democracy. But if a police officer votes for the HDP, it?s not democracy,? Y?ld?z said in a meeting with the Diplomacy Correspondents? Association. 

The minister suggested that in police public lodgings, 67 percent of the votes were for the HDP in June 7 elections, just because the parallel structure made efforts against the Justice and Development Party (AKP). If any member...