In recent days, Turkey has witnessed a heated public debate between Huseyin Celik, deputy chairman of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and party spokesman, and journalist Ertugrul Ozkok, who managed the leading mainstream secular nationalist daily Hurriyet between 1990 and 2010.
The debate which became more of a clash arose from the issue of the secretary-general of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu. Celik voiced crticisism against Ihsanoglu that was summarized in an Al-Monitor article by Fehim Tastekin. Ozkok responded sternly. Celik in return said the fact that a ‘’disreputable” person such as Ozkok had replied to him was a vindication of his views.
