Showing his true colors, Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan responded to Monday’s sentencing of Fazil Say -- the world renowned pianist who “insulted” Islam with his tweets -- by saying: “Do not occupy our time with such matters.”

By “such matters,” Erdogan is merely referring to the basic free speech rights of citizens in a supposed democracy. And, well, the response to the prime minister’s brush-off was aptly voiced by the main opposition Republican People’s Party, or CHP, leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu.

“If you are going to jail our artists, encourage the judiciary in that way. If you are going to abuse the justice system -- which does not really exist -- I am sad to say that democracy in this country is at stake,” Kilicdaroglu said. “If you convict our artist[s] you do not shame only yourself, but your country as well. Turkey does not deserve such a scene.”

Preach.