I don't think "the west" (if there's even such a thing anymore..) is blaming Erdogan for being Islamist. It's that he's a de facto dictator and using religion to expand his power and rally up supporters. People in power using religion to get more power.. such a novel idea!

He's not a dictator yet, since he was elected but all evidence shows that he's not going to be leaving once his term is done, that's when he'll become a dictator.

I laughed a little while reading this comment. Of course the opposition party blames Gulen, they must be relieved that Erdogan blamed it on Gulen and not on secularists like CHP.

1. Don't get purged out of the establishment

2. Let the Islamist factions fight each other!

Well, he also purged secularist factions out of the administration, police, army etc. Just blame it on Gulen. He did so arbitrarily without any evidence whatsoever. And let's not forget about the HDP MPs removed from parliament and other HDP members harrassed.