In what can only be described as a comical yet tragic error, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu made a major mistake when describing the difference between Daesh’s Islamic theology and that of Turkey earlier this week.
In an interview on Wednesday night with Turkish channel Show TV, the Turkish official attempted to distance Turkey from the group allegedly responsible for last week’s Ankara bombings, but instead accidentally suggested Daesh and Turkey hold the same religious views, saying:
“There is a 360-degree, not 180-degree, difference between the Islam we defend and what Daesh has on its mind.”
The gaffe comes after widespread criticism of alleged mishandling of intelligence by the Turkish government, which may have prevented the bombings at a peace rally which claimed 99 lives.
Daesh has been blamed for the attack, although many believe that Kurdish groups may have been responsible while others accuse the government of being responsible.
Ankara has also been the focus of global criticism for their policy towards Daesh, with particular condemnation aimed at porous border policies with Syria, which critics say perpetuate the flow of fighters into the war-torn country, and their aggressive stance towards Kurdish fighters battling Daesh.
Davutoglu’s mistake this week, while obviously unintentional, will likely do little to help the negative image of the Turkish government in the eyes of its critics.
By Kane Hippisley-Gatherum
