Turkey's opposition party slams controversial remarks on Ataturk

By Emin Avundukluoglu

ANKARA (AA) - A Turkish opposition party leader on Wednesday slammed those who curse Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the Turkish Republic.

"Against those who resort to backbiting in mosques, and those who have fallen to the lowest level of cursing their ancestors to change the agenda. I once again commemorate Ghazi Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the commander-in-chief of the armies of independence, with gratitude and mercy," Meral Aksener, the head of Good (IYI) Party, told her party's parliamentary group.

Aksener was referring to alleged controversial remarks on Ataturk by a Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque imam on Friday.

She reiterated Ataturk's dedication to his nation, saying: "Certainly, my humble body will turn to dust one day, but the Turkish Republic shall live forever.”

Following the defeat of the Ottoman Empire in World War 1, Ataturk led the country to independence and resisted attempts of the Allies to divide Turkey among themselves.

In 1923, his efforts took shape of an independent Turkish Republic where he took sweeping reforms for modernizing as its first president until his death in 1938.