ANKARA, Turkey, Nov. 2 (UPI) -- Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan said Saturday the country is going through a "true normalization" process that will result in a "new Turkey."
"What is being experienced in Turkey is true normalization," Today's Zaman quoted Erdogan as telling officials of his Justice and Development Party at a meeting in Kizilcahamam.
"What is normal is allowing headscarf-wearing students to enter university campuses. What is normal is ... attendance of headscarf-wearing deputies in Parliament, but they're being prevented from doing this so far. What is normal is allowing every language to be spoken freely. This is what is happening now."
The prime minister made frequent references to his desire to see a "new Turkey" in which everyone is accepted.
"There won't be sufferings of the past in the new Turkey," Erdogan said.
The prime minister rejected contentions of growing polarization in Turkey, with critics assessing blame on the ruling party.
"Such claims that there is polarization and interference in people's lifestyles [by the government] are brought to the agenda from time to time to undermine democratic politics," Erdogan said.polarization among the society.
