Deputy Bal says did not resign from AK Party on anyone’s orders


Date posted: January 31, 2014

İSTANBUL

Responding to speculations put forward by circles close to the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) that independent Kütahya deputy İdris Bal resigned from the party on an order from Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, Bal has said he did not resign from the party on anyone’s orders, stating that if they could prove this, he is also ready to resign from his post as deputy.

Bal, who was referred to the party’s disciplinary board for expulsion because he opposed the government’s planned closure of prep schools, announced on Nov. 30, 2013, that he had resigned from his party. The circles close to the party speculated that Bal resigned after he was ordered to do so by Gülen.

Harshly rejecting such speculations during a press conference he held in Parliament on Friday, Bal said he resigned because he wanted to do so. “If you can prove this [that he resigned on the order of Gülen], I promise I will resign from my post as a deputy,” he said.

Commenting further on the speculations over his resignation, Bal said: “I have principles. I did not engage in politics to curry favor with anyone. I entered Parliament to be able to represent those who voted for me in the best way possible and to fulfill my duties to my nation, which I love.”

Stating that the AK Party changed its perspective and its style of politics in its third term, Bal said: “Look at the first and second terms of the AK Party and now look at the third term. Those who have fears are democrats. When the AK Party was established in 2002, it embraced everybody. It based its politics on peace. It also had fears. It feared the party would be closed down. The AK Party was afraid of the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors [HSYK].” He added that as soon as the AK Party’s fears vanished, the party started to demolish what it had achieved during its first and second terms.

Pointing to the recent polarizing and harsh statements from politicians, Bal said politicians should respect political ethics, adding that politicians should avoid actions that may polarize people. “We as politicians should choose our words carefull

Source: Todays Zaman , January 31, 2014


Related News

Kanter: You need to know what is going on in Turkey

Question: You are being called a terrorist by Turkish government. What is your opinion on the widespread use of this term by the Government? Kanter: This is a term that many governments are using to scare people and get public support. No one likes terrorists — so if you brand your opponents as terrorists it’s easy to get support. The Turkish government has even accuses the US of being terrorist sponsors, they are a joke now.

Gülen’s curse was misquoted, misinterpreted, GYV chief says

Mustafa Yeşil, chairman of the Journalists and Writers Foundation’s (GYV) executive board, in response to criticisms targeting prominent Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, said the curse uttered by Gülen did not have a direct reference and was poorly comprehended and highly manipulated by some who repeated it.

Turkish Olympiad students visit Parliament Speaker Cemil Çiçek

İPEK ÜZÜM, İSTANBUL Students coming from all round the world to participate in the 11th International Turkish Olympiad, a festival that celebrates the Turkish language and which this year brought together 2,000 students from 140 countries around the world, visited Parliament Speaker Cemil Çiçek and organizations in Ankara on Monday. A group of students went […]

Hüseyin Gülerce: I have to respond to Mr. Barlas

The media organization that has been labeled as the mouthpiece of the [Gülen] Community is one of the rare Turkish media organizations where freedom of thought and expression and freedom of conscience are fully exercised. No Turkish media organization welcomes different intellectual and religious opinions as Zaman does. It is one of the few newspapers in Turkey where people can write without worrying about being punished.

Fresh resignation in Turkey’s ruling AKP over graft scandal

Çetin also denied that he had spoken about resigning with Gülen, adding that the U.S.-based scholar did not give orders to anyone. “He does not interfere with anyone’s preferences. You only take advise and he gives his personal opinion. He has actually persuaded me to stay until today,” the resigned deputy said.

Fethullah Gülen versus Ayatollah Khomeini?

Gülen will not return to a society that is expecting him as the Savior or the true representation of Turkishness or the antidote to current political failures. Although it is true that Gülen’s imminent return would cause tensions, it would only be tensions created by political interest groups which would use his presence for their […]

Latest News

Fethullah Gulen – man of education, peace and dialogue – passes away

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

In Case You Missed It

Turkish Schools for a Brighter Future in Somalia

Turkish Schools have changed the view against white people in Africa

Grondahl: Turkish community strong in wake of threats from back home

Refugee mother overjoyed after reuniting with daughters

Education as a Bridging Factor of All Dimensions of the Sustainable Development

Islamic scholar Gülen offers condolences to ferry victims

Liberia: ‘Go Beyond Secondary Education’- VP Urges Liberia’s Turkish Light International School

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News