Gülen: Democracy dealt yet another blow in Egypt


Date posted: July 9, 2013

Well-respected Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen has said democracy was once again dealt a blow in Egypt as he commented on the ouster of Mohammed Morsi in a military coup last week.

In his latest weekly speech, broadcast on website Herkul.org on Monday, Gülen shared his views on the military coup in Egypt. Recalling that the government toppled in Egypt had come to power through elections, Gülen said the ouster of this administration through a coup similar to those in Turkey on May 27, 1960, March 12, 1971, and Sept. 12, 1980, will go down in history as “evilness.” “Democracy has been once again dealt a blow,” Gülen said.

The Egyptian military on Wednesday overthrew the country’s first democratically elected president, suspended the constitution, called for new elections and announced it would install a temporary civilian government. The country’s chief justice was sworn in as interim president on Thursday.

Noting that it is “mercilessness” to topple Morsi on the grounds that he made mistakes, Gülen said one year is a very short period of time for a president to meet expectations of him. “A Muslim state nearby us is heading to elections with a democratic understanding to which is attached much importance with respect to today’s criteria. One is coming to power and just a year passes since the elections. One cannot even go beyond apprenticeship in a year.  This is a huge job, the job of running the state. And he [Morsi] is being toppled due to his mistakes according to some,” Gülen said.

According to Gülen, it is of no use today to blame Morsi for what has happened or for failing to get to know his close circle.  Noting that one should keep in mind that every human being can make mistakes and become the victim of his good opinions of people around him, Gülen said Morsi should have been warned beforehand.

“A believer nurtures positive opinions about someone but he or she can be mistaken… We can be the victim of our positive opinions one day. If someone sees this [mistake], they should warn and these people and prevent them from being mistaken,” Gülen said.

“Sometimes a group with their own interests surrounds a person. But their support just aims to maintain their own interest. They applaud and praise him. That person would assume that these people are his sincere friends. He calls what they say good as good and what they say bad as bad. That person [Morsi] might have been deceived in such a way as well. He should have been warned. The [intelligence] services I have just named should have warned him. The incitement should have been prevented from the beginning,” he added.

Gülen also warned that some circles would be making plans to see what happened in Egypt happen in other countries too. “Some who think that ‘the winds of fall began to blow somewhere and let’s make these winds blow everywhere and get away from this spring’ may make use of this issue in a different way. The utmost caution is needed,” Gülen added.

Source: Today's Zaman , July 09, 2013


Related News

Turkey’s permanent state of crisis

However, Erdogan has a problem: Whereas Ataturk came to power as a military general, Erdogan has a democratic mandate to govern. Ataturk’s Turkey was rural and only 10 percent of the country was literate at the time, with most educated people supporting his agenda. Erdogan’s Turkey is 80 percent urban and nearly 100 percent literate, and many well-educated Turks oppose his agenda.

History of politically motivated assault on Bank Asya

The politically motivated operation aimed at taking over Bank Asya is one that has unfolded step by step, marked by public statements from President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as well as other top Justice and Development Party (AK Party) officials.

ARO’s healthcare alliance with Cambodian Government agencies

Australian Relief Organisation has formed a trilateral alliance with Cambodian Government agencies, including the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Rural Development, and Mekong Charity to deliver healthcare projects in Cambodia.

Erdoğan has to respect civil society

ŞAHİN ALPAY Colleagues and friends ask me, “What is the reason for the feud between the government and the Gülen movement and between Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Fethullah Gülen?” This is, briefly, my response. In Turkey the demand for education is very high. Universities are unable to meet the demand and there are […]

Almost 1,000 officers removed from post in İzmir, Ankara

Around 700 police officers, including four deputy chiefs and 70 high-ranking officials, were removed from their posts at the İzmir Police Department and reassigned to different positions on Thursday morning and removals continued later in the afternoon with 207 more officers

What a shame, what a pity

The education bill is just a message to a specific audience. It turned out to be the first step in the destruction of the Hizmet movement [inspired by Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen]. The new bill [on dershanes] is not limited to prep schools. It aims to almost “reestablish” the Ministry of Education [by reassigning thousands of officials].

Latest News

Fethullah Gülen’s Condolence Message for South African Human Rights Defender Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Hizmet Movement Declares Core Values with Unified Voice

Ankara systematically tortures supporters of Gülen movement, Kurds, Turkey Tribunal rapporteurs say

Erdogan possessed by Pharaoh, Herod, Hitler spirits?

Devious Use of International Organizations to Persecute Dissidents Abroad: The Erdogan Case

A “Controlled Coup”: Erdogan’s Contribution to the Autocrats’ Playbook

Why is Turkey’s Erdogan persecuting the Gulen movement?

Purge-victim man sent back to prison over Gulen links despite stage 4 cancer diagnosis

University refuses admission to woman jailed over Gülen links

In Case You Missed It

Turkish cleric demands fatwa to amputate hands, feet of Gülen followers

Gülen’s lawyer files libel suit against Interior Minister Ala

Turkey’s Purge Could Cause a Massive Brain Drain

Catholics, Hizmet bring faiths closer in the US

Father of three released only after wife died following heart attack

Targeted by Erdoğan, Turkish schools earn praise, offer success abroad

Turkish high-schooler commits suicide after father was dismissed under emergency rules

Copyright 2024 Hizmet News