Turkish main opposition CHP head accuses gov't of protecting 'abusers, thieves'

The government is trying to protect "thieves and child abusers," main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) chair Kemal K?l?çdaro?lu has said, in a fiery speech that also directed criticism at President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an. 

"If you degenerate morals then you finish the country. A political ethics law should be passed soon," K?l?çdaro?lu said on April 12, addressing his party deputies in a weekly meeting.

"They talk about beliefs and religion day and night. But didn't they protect thieves? They will raise hell again, but let me say that whoever lies in front of a thief will find me confronting them. My conscience is clean," he added. 

The CHP head was referring to a corruption probe in 2013 that embroiled four cabinet ministers as well as Iranian-Turkish businessman Reza Zarrab, who is now imprisoned in the U.S. on charges of fraud and violating international sanctions on Iran. The case of the ministers and Zarrab was earlier dropped in Turkey. 

"Why are you lying in front of the Ensar Foundation? I asked that question and a chorus protested me," K?l?çdaor?lu also said, referring to the opprobrium that greeted his criticism last week of Family Minister Sema Ramazano?lu over recent sexual abuse cases in private education institutes. 

"The governor and the education minister don't talk [about the cases]. The family minister is already in the position of lying in front of someone else, so she doesn't talk either," K?l?çdaro?lu had said, prompting an angry response from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). 

The CHP head denied making a sexist remark and said he was referring to a phrase used in a voice recording of a minister allegedly speaking about protecting Zarrab. 

Parliament decided on...