The prayer was widely denounced for its political nature. An MP from the ruling AKP called it an illegal "political show" connected with the Aghtamar mass, while art historian Heghnar Watenpaugh described the event as an example of "political stagecraft." According to Aris Nalcı of the Turkish-Armenian daily "Agos" it was "addressed to Turks, rather than Armenians." According to commentary prepared by the Yapı Kredi Bank Economic Research, "the scene looked awkward to a large majority of Turks." "Hürriyet Daily News" columnist Yusuf Kanlı described it as an "attempt Bahçeli to woo and win back the lost nationalist-conservative vote." Turkish-Armenian journalist Markar Esayan wrote in "Taraf" that what Bahçeli did at Ani was "in fact exploitation of religion."