Definition of 'Islamist' made the Virtue members angry

Serhat Oguz Istanbul


       Many issues including the earthquake disaster and the head - scarf ban
       was the subjects of the dinner that the Virtue Party Istanbul branch has
       given to the ambassadors in Istanbul.
       Parliament member Nazli Ilicak who told the US Ambassador the problems that
       they had in the head - scarf issue, gave a harsh response to Pakistan
       Ambassador who considered the Virtue Party members as Islamists.
       The provincial chairman Numan Kurtulmus on the other hand said Virtue is not
       an Islamist party and tried to introduce his party.
       At the dinner provincial chairman of the Virtue Party Numan Kurtulmus, his
       wife Sevgi Kurtulmus, Istanbul Municipality Mayor Alif Mufit Gurtuna, Virtue
       deputy Nazli Ilicak, the US Ambassador Frank Urbancic, and Pakistan
       Ambassador Najeeb Awan sat on the same table.

Reaction against the Pakistani Ambassador

       During the dinner, referring to the Virtue Party members Awan said
       "Islamists have a better administrative performance." Ilicak got angry with
       this reference and said, "If you mean those who believe in God and do their
       prayer as the Islamists, then there is no problem. But if you mean those who
       want to change the regime, we are not them."