'Ottoman Hearths' president: 'peaceful people are meant to end fighting and bring peace'.

Source picture and info on 'group'. 

'Ottoman Hearths' president: 'peaceful people are meant to end fighting and bring peace'. (TZ).

The president of the Osmanlı Ocakları (Ottoman Hearths), Kadir Canpolat, has defended the group's slogan and has said that they are soldiers in shrouds for President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and that they are ready to die for him.

The slogan, “Being a soldier who wears a shroud for the leader with the shroud,” is apparently in reference to Erdoğan, who frequently reminds his audiences during his speeches that he departed for his holy voyage in politics with a shroud -- a clear reference to the idea that he is ready to be a martyr. In other words, Erdoğan is stressing the idea that he is willing to risk everything for his cause without explaining what that cause actually is.

Asked to comment on the slogan in an interview with the Hürriyet daily, Canpolat said anyone who hears the slogan asks whether the hearths were founded for war. “Anyone who wears a shroud takes the risk of death. Anyone who takes up arms takes the risk of killing. He [apparently Erdoğan] wore the shroud to serve to the nation and we also wore shrouds to serve him,” Canpolat said.

Stating that the hearths have between 2 and 3 million members, Canpolat continued: “Those who want peace and brotherhood face a great risk of being killed. Troublemakers and defeatists kill those who want peace because peaceful people are meant to end fighting and bring peace.

I will speak openly: If Erdoğan did not exist in this circumstance, if he did not wear his shroud to serve his nation, there would more bloodshed, more deaths and more serious operations in our country.”

The opposition has said the Ottoman Hearths were used to incite Justice and Development Party (AK Party)-orchestrated violence nationwide toward Erdoğan's opponents in politics and the media. Hmmm........The four finger sign. Read the full story here.