Turkish PM compares Netanyahu with 'Paris terrorists'

Turkish PM says freedom of press 'does not mean freedom to insult'


Afp January 15, 2015
Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu. PHOTO: REUTERS

ANKARA: Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Thursday said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had committed crimes against humanity comparable to those behind the Paris attacks that left 17 dead.

"Netanyahu has committed crimes against humanity the same like those terrorists who carried out the Paris massacre," he told reporters in televised comments, pointing to the deadly 2010 Israeli assault on a Turkish aid vessel and last year's onslaught on Hamas-controlled Gaza.

Davutoglu further said freedom of the press does not give a licence to insult, describing the publication of cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) as a "grave provocation".

"Freedom of the press does not mean freedom to insult," Davutoglu told reporters in Ankara a day after leading Turkish daily Cumhuriyet and Internet sites published cartoons featuring the Prophet (PBUH) from the special Charlie Hebdo issue. "We cannot allow insults to the prophet (PBUH)... Printing the cartoon is a grave provocation," he said.

COMMENTS (3)

numbersnumbers | 9 years ago | Reply

Ha, Turkish version of "Freedom of the press" is evident by the number of journalists imprisioned in Turkey on various flimsy charges due to criticizing the ruling party! See wikipedia for list of journalists imprisioned in Turkey!

Bewildered | 9 years ago | Reply

"Turkish PM compares Netanyahu with 'Paris terrorists'"

He is even worst. The two brothers who killed 12 not-so-innocents people in Paris were nobody, week, resourceless, and had no means to get their grievances (right or wrong) addressed. While Netanyahu is a leader of the most powerful nation in the region, and he kills the week innocents demanding justice and that too in thousands in one go.

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