Mind-polluting leaks about Hizmet movement

Bulent Korucu
Bulent Korucu


Date posted: March 8, 2012

The Taraf daily has performed extraordinarily in the fight against the bureaucratic oligarchy. Its contributions to the process of cleaning up the back alleys of the country cannot be ignored. However, it appears that it has started to make several errors due to its skyrocketing self-confidence.

BÜLENT KORUCU March 8, 2012

Add to this overblown self-confidence the drive to prove its independence and it has found itself immersed in a game of “kicking everyone who gets in the way.” This attitude became more and more obvious with the news stories they ran on Tuesday and Wednesday pertaining to recent WikiLeaks controversies concerning the health of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and claims about Fethullah Gülen Hocaefendi.

There could be better communication about Prime Minister Erdoğan’s health. The potential turbulence among the public stemming from conflicting reports could be avoided by informing the necessary authorities in advance. Everything has been alright so far, but is it right to run headlines about the prime minister’s health based on rumors? I think such critical matters as health should not make the headlines based on what “one of Stratfor’s sources heard from a friend of the prime minister’s physician.” Although a statement by the physician in response to the leak seems to be maintaining appearances, it far from eliminates the seeds of doubt that have been planted in the minds of the public. One could argue that even the truth or information obtained directly from the people concerned could be disputed, but then it would be necessary to respect Taraf’s reporting preference.

Taraf has been launching such counter attacks in order to refute accusations of being pro-Hizmet (Gülen movement), also referred to as “the community.” The recent leaks proved to be a good opportunity to do this. A full page of conflicting information published by the Taraf daily yesterday reminds one of neo-nationalist rants. Cover the paper’s name and you would take it for a neo-nationalist paper with the headlines it ran. Seeing such titles as “Gülen’s supporters have been infiltrating the state for 40 years,” “Erdoğan deals blow to community by sacking Ali Fuat Yılmazer,” “Having dominated police intelligence, they [the community] now try to dominate MİT [the National Intelligence Organization],” “Justice and Development Party [AKP] does not want to be excessively dependent on Gülen’s supporters” and “Did CIA protect Gülen in Turkic republics?” One might well ask “Is Ergun Poyraz now working for Taraf?”

In particular, the title “[Nedim] Sener and [Ahmet] Şık were arrested because the community wants 150 deputies” is most demonstrative of how Taraf has excelled in this recent hysteria. According to Taraf’s logic, the community should want the president’s office in return for operations against the Kurdish Communities Union (KCK). The paper already argues that President Abdullah Gül and Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu represent the pro-Gülen camp within the AKP. It is a contradiction to argue that the community parted with the AKP in reaction to Israel and the Mavi Marmara attack and then declare that the most fervent supporters of these polices are pro-community. Moreover, according to Taraf, the chief adviser to Davutoğlu, who plans to replace him and who is at odds with him, was also pro-community. Well, I must confess that I am completely at a loss about Taraf’s accounts regarding the community: Two pro-community men are having a dispute and the community says one thing while a pro-community minister says another.

Now, Taraf may try to defend itself saying, “We didn’t do it, we just reported it.” Yet editorial preferences, headlines and published and unpublished materials are not about “just reporting.” Taraf is laying waste to everything that would make it stronger. It also suffers from some of the Turkish media’s typical pitfalls. It expends great effort for the sake of appearing independent, but, paradoxically, these efforts breach its neutrality. What it does with egoistic arrogance undermines its identity.

Source: Today’s Zaman http://www.todayszaman.com/columnist-273727-mind-polluting-leaks.html


Related News

Gülen denies role in blocking publication of Şık’s book

In a statement, Gülen said he has never worked to block the publication of a book even though they are many books on the shelves that target him personally. “Many books against me personally have been published. But I have never been engaged in efforts to prevent the publication of a book.

British lawyers warn of human rights violations in Turkey [against Gulen Movement]

Turkey’s government is inflicting “systematic human rights violations” on its judiciary, police and media, according to a scathing report by senior British lawyers that was commissioned by one of president Erdogan’s exiled opponents.

Science, Culture and Art activity held at Fatih College

Near the end of 2013-2014 academic year, Fatih College held a large scale activity with the participation of 25,000 students from 106 colleges.

Alevi, Sunni businessmen will finance joint prayer complex

İLYAS KOÇ, ANKARA The first joint mosque-cemevi (Alevi house of worship) project in Turkey will be financed by businessmen from both parties, the head of the Hacı Bektaş Veli Culture, Education, Health and Research Foundation, Kemal Kaya, said on Thursday. The idea for such a project, which aims to strengthen will of peaceful coexistence, came […]

Russian envoy’s murderer attended sermons of controversial pro-Erdoğan cleric

While the Turkish government insists on claiming that Mert Altıntaş, the police officer who assassinated the Russian ambassador to Ankara, is linked to the Gülen movement, it has been discovered that the gunman attended the sermons of Nurettin Yıldız, a staunch supporter of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

EU report expresses concern about purge against Gülen movement

The progress report on Turkey that was issued on Wednesday by the European Commission expressed concern over the Turkish government’s purge against Gülen movement members, saying “any allegation of wrongdoing needs to be examined with due process, transparent procedures, and the right of every individual to a fair trial or equitable administrative process should be safeguarded.”

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

Fethullah Gulen: The Idea Architect

Mischief-makers and the Hizmet movement

British lawyers warn of human rights violations in Turkey [against Gulen Movement]

Gülen conference in London

Ideal human, ideal society in Gulen’s philosophy

Clash of the Anatolian Tigers

Turkey pledges to help rebuild Bosnia after floods

Copyright 2024 Hizmet News