EP discusses transparency call for Hizmet


Date posted: February 12, 2014

BRUSSELS

A European Parliament (EP) committee discussed on Wednesday a proposal, calling on the Hizmet movement to increase transparency, a call backed by the movement.

The proposal has been tabled as a proposed amendment to an annual report on EU candidate Turkey, drafted by Dutch Christian Democrat Ria Oomen-Ruijten. The measure, known as the 87th amendment proposal, was taken up at the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

The proposal both criticizes the way the government handled a corruption investigation involving ministers and businessmen close to the government and calls on the Hizmet movement to increase its transparency.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has dismissed corruption accusations and called the investigation a “coup attempt” by the Hizmet movement, inspired by teachings of Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen and foreign collaborators.

German Liberal parliamentarian Alexander Graf Lambsdorff defended the measure during the debate at the Committee on Foreign Affairs, saying it would be useful if representatives of the Hizmet movement would brief the European Parliament. He cited the case of journalist Ahmet Şık, who is facing trial in the Ergenekon coup case and was invited to the EP to talk about his case.

But rapporteur Oomen-Ruijten appeared to be opposed to the idea, saying the Parliament’s interlocutor is none other than the Turkish government.

The proposal, tabled by members of European Parliament (MEP) Andrew Duff, Marietje Schaake, Sarah Ludford and Ivo Vajgl, seems unlikely to be cleared by Parliament. EP sources talking to Today’s Zaman said other political groups in the EP are not inclined to vote for the 87th amendment proposal because majority of MEPs believe that the government should be under the spotlight for its interventions to derail the corruption probe.

The government has ordered the reassignment of thousands of police officers and scores of judges and prosecutors after the investigation went under way on Dec. 17.

In a letter dated Jan. 20 that was sent to all members of the EP, the Brussels-based Intercultural Dialogue Platform (IDP), whose honorary president is Gülen, stated that it welcomes calls upon the Hizmet movement to improve its transparency and accountability.

The letter said that the Hizmet movement had not received any such official call from the EP, but that it continues to invite and welcome scrutiny as it has in the past.

Source: Todays Zaman , February 12, 2014


Related News

A road less traveled

Education is only a part of the movement’s activities; its main attraction to large segments of Turkish society is its willingness to engage in dialogue with other religions and ideologies. It is an inclusive movement. The movement is always the first to condemn violent activities whenever and wherever they occur, regardless of who the perpetrators are.

An interesting debate in the European Parliament

It is known that European parliamentarians already talk to people close to Hizmet, so this refusal was interesting. It can even give the impression that the Turkish government is putting pressure on the EP. Of course, Turkey hasn’t that kind of power; if we did, we would have become an EU member years ago. The other impression is that the Hizmet movement is trying to influence the EP’s work.

Gülen chair holder praises movement’s focus on education

Professor Johan Leman, the holder of Fethullah Gülen Chair at the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium has said the Gülen movement is a perfect partner for him to work with.

Dozens of US Congress members urge Kerry to press Turkey for freer media

A large number of members of the US Congress have voiced concerns on the recent arrest of media members in Turkey and called on Secretary of State John Kerry to press the Turkish government to secure press freedom in the country.

Pro-gov’t daily sets up hotline for informing on Gülen followers in EU

The pro-government Sabah daily’s Europe edition, Sabah Avrupa, has set up a telephone line for its readers to report followers of the faith-based Gülen movement, against which Turkish authorities launched a witch hunt over its alleged involvement in a failed coup last summer.

Turkey’s tryst with democracy (1)

All of Erdoğan’s recent acts reflect a serious deficit of democracy in the ruling government. These acts include making bogus claims of a parallel structure; targeting institutions linked to Fethullah Gülen’s Hizmet movement; embark on a massive reshuffle of thousands of officials without any reasonable grounds; changing the structure of the Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK) to subjugate the judiciary; openly interfering in the media; strengthening the National Intelligence Organization (MİT) and bringing it under the direct control of the prime minister; banning Twitter and YouTube; and speaking with a threatening, bullying and polarizing tone.

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 businesswomen building orphanage in Burundi

Erdogan’s Maarif Foundation To Contribute Radicalism, Exacerbate Muslim-Christian Tension In African Countries

Erdogan’s Turkey silencing dissent, abusing terrorism charges – HRW report

Code ‘111′ profiling of ‘Hizmet’ on Parliament’s agenda

Abant Platform on Africa to convene on Friday

Turkish Cultural Center presents ‘Love is a Verb’

Defamation campaign against Hizmet condemned by CSOs from across country

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News