Politics
Fethullah Gulen, a U.S.-based cleric with broad support in Turkey, lashed out at embattled prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan Tuesday, accusing him of harming the nation's democratic reforms. Gulen's words come as Tayyip Erdogan is in Brussels (his first such visit in five years) to push ahead Turkey's E.U. membership bid. Gulen's remarks are clearly targeted at those very talks -- though with the damage already done to the P.M.'s status by his recent purge of the police force and the uncertainty generated by the Turkish central bank's latest rate move, Gulen may be gilding the lily.
Background:
Turkey democracy being rolled back, warns Gulen [The Daily Star]
Moment of truth for Turkey [Reuters]
Hundreds greet Erdogan in Brussels [Hurriyet Daily News]
Turkish lira at record low as central bank holds rates steady [Businessweek]
