Dr M dismisses Turkish author's remarks over comments against Jews

PUTRAJAYA: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has slammed a Turkish author, saying that the latter is practising double standards when it comes to free speech.

The Prime Minister dismissed Mustafa Akyol's remarks that he was disrespectful towards the Jews.

Dr Mahathir said he has every right to express his opinion.

"They talk about free speech but if I can't say (my views), then there is no free speech.

"That is why I said the Europeans have double standards. When they like something, it is free speech, but if they don't like it, then you can't say it. That's wrong," he told reporters on Thursday (June 20).

Aykol had criticised Dr Mahathir over his remarks against the Jews during a recent talk in the United Kingdom.

In a short clip of the talk uploaded on the Union of Jewish Students' tweet, Dr Mahathir could be heard saying, "I have some Jewish friends, very good friends.

"They are not like other Jews, that's why they are my friends."

The Prime Minister had made the comment in response to a question by the session moderator Adam Davies, who asked him to justify saying that Jews were "inclined towards money".