Ali Rıza Demircan: In the century-long history of our Republic, a politician like Erdoğan has not come.

Turkish theologian and writer Ali Rıza Demircan answered the questions of the moderator of the program published on Haberler.com, the Editor-in-Chief of Haberler.com, Av. Bedia Teymur. Demircan explained how President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan started his political career and the behind-the-scenes success of his 22 years in power.

"ERDOĞAN WAS THE FIRST STUDENT TO SHOW AN INTEREST IN FOOTBALL AT IMAM HATIP SCHOOL"

Demircan stated that between 1965-1970, there were intellectual discussions among high schools in Istanbul while he was a student at Imam Hatip school, and mentioned that one of those who later joined the debate team composed of the graduates of Imam Hatip was Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. He shared that their acquaintance was during Erdoğan's childhood, saying, "Mr. Tayyip has a characteristic that is not common among Imam Hatip students. There are many wrestlers in our Imam Hatip high schools, and there are national wrestlers, but there are hardly any football players. In his time, Mr. Tayyip was the first Imam Hatip student to show an interest in football."

"SULTAN DEMİRCAN WAS MY OLDER BROTHER AND I WAS MR. TAYYIP'S OLDER BROTHER"

Demircan stated, "During his student years, the famous tough guy Sultan Demircan was also the president of the Kasımpaşa Club. So Sultan Demircan was like my older brother, and I was like Mr. Tayyip's older brother, his husband."

"MR. TAYYIP ENTERED POLITICS AT A VERY YOUNG AGE"

Expressing that he did not feel the need to establish a connection with Erdoğan, Demircan said, "Mr. Tayyip entered politics at a very young age. In politics, you need two main materials: one is knowledge, and the other is oratory. Since the National Salvation Party is a party inspired by Islam, Mr. Tayyip needed an older brother and a source in two areas for his speeches directed at the public, where Islam was dominant: one, Islamic issues, and two, examples of oratory."

"THE CLOSENESS WAS NOT BECAUSE I WENT TO THAT PARTY, BUT BECAUSE THAT PARTY CAME TO ME"

Demircan expressed that he has never approached politicians throughout his life, saying, "They are close to me. Because I became famous as the Imam of Süleymaniye Mosque. I preferred to be the conscience of society. So the public saw me as close to a certain party, but it was not because I went to that party; it was because that party came to me that there was a closeness. I wonder if I can explain this subtle point?"

"I OPPOSED THE CURRENCY PROTECTION APPLICATION AND THE ISTANBUL CONVENTION"

Demircan, who stated that he followed Erdoğan from a distance during the establishment periods of the National Salvation Party, Welfare Party, and AK Party, mentioned that he has always provided both material and spiritual cultural support. "I continue to do so, but I have a different kind of friendship," said Demircan, "For example, I have written at least 100 articles criticizing Mr. Tayyip and his management policies until today. But I tried to write as an Islamic scholar. I tried to write as the conscience of society and never did it with a political logic or a derogatory purpose. I criticized constructively. I wanted to avoid going down this path. For instance, I opposed the currency protection application, which has become a problem for the Turkish economy today. I opposed the Istanbul Convention. I opposed the law numbered 6224, if I am not mistaken. I opposed the interest policies implemented in Turkey. I opposed wasteful policies, but I supported the applications that I found efficient."

"THERE IS NO OTHER POLITICIAN IN OUR CENTURY-LONG HISTORY WHO CAN BE COMPARED TO ERDOĞAN"

Evaluating Erdoğan's success in staying in power for 22 years, Demircan stated, "In my opinion, in many aspects, there is no other politician in our century-long history who can be compared to Tayyip Erdoğan, who can be evaluated by what he has contributed to the country. Mr. Tayyip is a person with advantages that cannot be reconciled or compared with current politicians. He was my choice yesterday, and he is my choice today."

Demircan stated that this does not mean that all of Erdoğan's policies are accurate and beyond criticism, saying, "If you are human, if you are working, if you are managing a country, you can make mistakes. People are evaluated by their mistakes and virtues."

Stating that he has never made any requests from any politician until today, Demircan continued his words as follows:

"Throughout the Republic's history in Turkey, no one has come who can surpass our brother Recep Tayyip Erdoğan with his services; I am not saying that there have not been those who served. Do not get me wrong. But Mr. Tayyip is a person who has contributed the most to this country in our century-long history, who has served Islam, and on the other hand, has served democracy."

"IN TURKEY, IT IS NOT JOURNALISTS BEING TRIED, BUT THOSE INVOLVED IN TERRORISM"

Speaking about the journalists who are being tried, Demircan said, "Now they say journalists are being tried. No. Journalists are not being tried in Turkey. Those involved in terrorism are being tried. Let's sit straight but speak the truth."