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."