President Gül dismisses calls to help tackle political turmoil


Date posted: February 5, 2014

İSTANBUL

President Abdullah Gül has dismissed calls for him to be more active in tackling the political turmoil Turkey is facing due to a recent graft scandal that has implicated prominent businessmen and the sons of ministers.

During a joint news conference with his Romanian counterpart, Traian Basescu, Gül was asked to respond to the Journalists and Writers Foundation’s (GYV) calls for him to intervene in Turkey’s political turmoil.

The foundation called on Gül “to be on duty,” a Turkish expression that roughly means, “do your job when necessary.” The president dismissed the question, saying, “Am I not on duty at the moment?” simultaneously dodging the question with a play on words and hinting that he was, in fact, “on duty.”

When asked about his meeting with Republican People’s Party (CHP) deputy Erdal Aksünger, Gül said all his meetings are conducted in the public eye, adding that he is open to meeting with the members of any party. He went on to add that long detention periods for prisoners should be abolished and that work to resolve the issue was ongoing.

During a press conference held on Monday, the GYV, whose honorary chairman is Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, stated that a hate crime is being carried out against the Hizmet movement in Turkey and called on President Gül to take the initiative to investigate the executive branch’s recent attempts to render the judiciary dysfunctional.

During the press conference, GYV Chairman Mustafa Yeşil said the GYV is calling on Gül to take action to prevent risks to the constitutional order, the separation of powers, checks and balances, the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law.

“The public expects him [Gül] to use his powers and authorities under the Constitution to investigate the interventions that sought to render the law dysfunctional, in terms of the graft and bribery investigations. It is vital for the president, who represents the unity and integrity of the country and the state, to adopt a constructive and proactive approach to this process, as this is crucial to avoid the undermining of social peace, dragging the country into chaos, the victimization of a significant portion of the country via politics, the media and the public and, most importantly, it is crucial for justice to be done,” Yeşil said.

When he was asked by a reporter to give further details about the GYV’s call on Gül, Yeşil said Gül’s powers are designated by law and he represents the authority that has the primary responsibility for a well-functioning state, adding: “Gül can investigate the recent unlawful developments, the massive reassignments of police officers and prosecutors and the profiling allegations through the State Audit Institution [DDK] to ensure the functionality of the law in the country. The GYV believes that the president should use the powers given to him by law as an independent authority.”

Source: Todays Zaman , February 5, 2014


Related News

Gülen Movement: An Alternative to Fundamentalism

Helen Rose Ebaugh, an American professor specializing in the sociology of religion, sees the movement founded by the controversial Turkish preacher Fethullah Gülen as both an opportunity for the West and a serious alternative to religious extremism.

Judge jails mother of three, threatens to arrest 3-month-old baby

Ruled on the arrest of a mother of three children a judge in Kırşehir, Turkey, has threatened the relatives of the woman asking them to give up their complaints otherwise her 3-month-old would be the next target.

Nigeria: Hizmet Movement not terrorists

The Concerned African Youth against Tyranny (CAYAT) has denied report that the Fethullah Gulen Movement and Hizmet Movement are terrorist groups. National Coordinator of the organisation, Mr. Musa Shaba said yesterday in Abuja that contrary to claims by the Turkish government the movement has become the face of Turkey in Nigeria and Africa.

Society, not community!

Considering that the issue of “the Community” has been discussed extensively, I would like to make a humble contribution to this matter. Most of the arguments raised on this matter have been wrong or unfair. Those who raise these arguments have little knowledge of the cultural atmosphere and the emotions of the members of this […]

Municipality shuts down three reading halls in Adıyaman

Adıyaman Municipality has reportedly closed down three reading halls established to help educate the children of needy and poor families, using scores of police vehicles.

10 arrested for providing food and assistance to families of jailed Gülen followers

Ten out of 33 people who were detained in the western Turkish province of Manisa in early July have been arrested for providing aid to the families of alleged Gülen movement followers.

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

UN praises Kimse Yok Mu for aid efforts in Somalia

Report claims government categorized schools linked to Hizmet

Gülen criticizes remarks insulting members of Hizmet movement

Turkish school students raises pocket moneys to buy stoves for refugees

Strange alignment of PKK and government against Hizmet

Turkish evidence for Gulen extradition pre-dates coup attempt

Turkish Olympiads close with perfect ceremony

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News