Islam seeks lower rates, says Recep Tayyip Erdogan; lira slumps

For a second time in a month, Erdogan invoked religion to justify the current monetary stance

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan pledged to continue interest rate cuts that have made the Turkish lira the world’s worst performing currency over the past three months, referring to Islamic proscriptions on usury as a basis for his new policy push.

Erdogan evokes religion in new push for lower rates

“What is it? We are lowering interest rates. Don’t expect anything else from me,” Erdogan said Sunday in televised comments from Istanbul. “As a Muslim, I’ll continue to do what is required by nas,” Erdogan said, using an Arabic word used in Turkish to refer to Islamic teachings.

For a second time in a