Erzurum people call Minister Ala to apologize Gülen for his remarks


Date posted: January 30, 2014

 

ERZURUM

A large group of people from nongovernmental organizations representatives, academics, businessmen and lawyers made a press statement on a speech paid by Interior Minister Efkan Ala saying that such a speech is an insult to Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen and called Ala to apologize Gülen for his remarks.

During a meeting in Erzurum to introduce the Justice and Development Party’s (AK Party) mayoral candidates on Monday, Ala said: “You are denigrating the people — among whom you are based — who are working for the sake of God. Who are you? Who are you? Are you strong enough to deal with this? Is this nation helping you in this? How dare you rise up and initiate a coup plot?”

Speaking on behalf of the group lawyer Ebubekir Atmaca stated that Gülen is one of the valuable citizens who grew up in Erzurum and there is nothing adverse in the Hizmet Movement facilities inspired by Gülen. The group also expressed that Ala’s speech deplored Erzurum people greatly since they appreciate actions of the Hizmet and their support to the AK Party has decreased.

Gülen is highly respected both in Turkey and in many countries around the world for educational activities he has pioneered, along with his efforts to promote intercultural and interfaith activities around the globe. He is in self-imposed exile in the US, though there is no legal hurdle that prevents him from returning to Turkey. Shortly after he went to the US in 2000, he was charged with establishing an illegal organization in Turkey, but was eventually acquitted in 2008.

Source: Cihan , January 30, 2014

Tags: | | | |


Related News

Turkey, ‘The Devil’s Advocate’ and ‘Titanic’

Questions to challenge the primary and unjustified premise: What judicial (or other) process determined that these corruption investigations were a coup attempt against the government? What proof or evidence do you have to support this most serious claim? What disciplinary process did you undertake to determine that the people that were purged were members and culprits of this ‘coup’? In the absence of evidence and disciplinary process how did you determine these people’s association with Hizmet? When is government corruption not a judicial coup? How can you have the right to unilaterally determine the intent and purpose of these ongoing judicial investigations when your government is implicated in them? If your government can purge over 7,000 police officers (and thereby affect and prevent these investigations) without evidence, due process or disciplinary procedure, do you not set a precedent for every future potentially corrupt government to follow?

Are politics and Hizmet from different walks of life?

The possibility of rivalry or conflict between ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and Hizmet (the Gülen movement, which consists of followers of Turkish scholar Fethullah Gülen’s ideas), came to the agenda once again when individuals known to be Gülen followers took the side of the judiciary in a debate between the government and […]

Erdoğan gov’t abusing regulatory agencies to punish opponents

Pressuring state regulators to abuse their powers, the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government has mounted an aggressive campaign to punish groups and companies that are critical of the government’s handling of a massive corruption investigation, which has led to questions about the credibility and independence of regulatory agencies in Turkey.

Erdogan’s Failed Crusade: The World Rejects His War on Hizmet

Indigenous African knowledge has it that when you tell a lie, it normally does not take long to dawn. As a warning against cheating, my mother, who died thirty-one years ago this year (1994), used to admonish us: “You do it in my absence, and what happens next is I see it all.” In the […]

Kimse Yok Mu to launch legal case against cabinet ruling

Kimse Yok Mu filed three separate lawsuits after the cabinet ruling revoking its license to collect donations without government approval.

Turkey calls on parents to report Erdogan critics at German schools

Turkish consulates in Germany have been organizing events for Turkish parents and asking them to spy on critics of the President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Turkey at German schools, according to an education trade union, GEW (Gewerkschaft Erziehung und Wissenschaft).

Latest News

Turkish inmate jailed over alleged Gülen links dies of heart attack in prison

Message of Condemnation and Condolences for Mass Shooting at Bondi Beach, Sydney

Media executive Hidayet Karaca marks 11th year in prison over alleged links to Gülen movement

ECtHR faults Turkey for convictions of 2,420 applicants over Gülen links in follow-up to 2023 judgment

New Book Exposes Erdoğan’s “Civil Death Project” Targeting the Hizmet Movement

European Human Rights Treaty Faces Legal And Political Tests

ECtHR rejects Turkey’s appeal, clearing path for retrials in Gülen-linked cases

Erdoğan’s Civil Death Project’ : The ‘politicide’ spanning more than a decade

Fethullah Gülen’s Vision and the Purpose of Hizmet

In Case You Missed It

Hizmet-affiliated schools removed from private school incentive list

When lawlessness becomes a way of life

Fethullah Gulen’s Message of Condolences for Senator John McCain

Why Biden must stop Erdogan’s abuse of counterterrorism rhetoric

Lawyer: Female journalist traumatized by abuse, torture at Turkish police station

Main opposition CHP’s visit to Gülen organization a ‘unifying action’

Police raid house of 96-year-old philanthropist in İzmir

Copyright 2026 Hizmet News