Gülen offers condolences for police officer, resident
Date posted: March 15, 2014
İSTANBUL
Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen has expressed condolences for the death of a police officer and a resident amid high tensions across Turkey.
Gülen said in a statement on Friday that Turkey’s “atmosphere is being spoiled with rancor and hatred” and that the country needs a nationwide return to common sense and security above all else. The scholar said he is very troubled to have received the news on these “tragic” days, when those who cause polarization are supposed to urge restraint and caution.
He offered his condolences for police officer Ahmet Küçükdağ from Tunceli, who died while on duty and Burak Can Karamanoğlu, a resident who was killed during a protest in İstanbul’s Okmeydanı neighborhood. He added that he is praying that these tragic events are halted and for the nation to achieve peace and stability.
Alevis have been traditionally considering themselves a minority because their interpretation of Islam differs from the state’s understanding. In such a climate, the Abant Platform organized [a Gulen Movement affiliated organization] a three-day-long meeting by Lake Abant over the weekend, bringing representatives from the Alevi and Sunni community. Personally, I learned a lot from the meeting which almost served as a channel for venting for Alevis.
Who is Fethullah Gülen, why is the Gülen movement currently being targeted by the Turkish government?
since 2010 the movement and Fethullah Gülen himself have been critical of the authoritarian tendencies in Turkey. It was noticeable during the Gezi Park protests in 2013. The movement began to belong to the increasingly long list of state enemies, according to Erdoğan and the AKP politicians. Different kinds of actions have been directed since then against a so called “parallel state.”
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