Criminal Charges for Quake Rhetoric
An Islamic sect leader was charged with inciting religious hatred by claiming that the killer earthquake in August was Allah’s revenge against Turkey for secularism. Mehmet Kutlular denied the charges in an interview with CNN Turk, a joint venture with CNN. If convicted, he could receive up to three years in prison. Kutlular is one of the leaders of the Nur Cemaati sect, which published a booklet calling the Aug. 17 quake divine retribution for military-imposed policies banning head scarves in schools and public buildings.
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