German gov’t dismisses parliamentary question on Hizmet


Date posted: March 20, 2014

BERLIN

The German federal government dismissed a parliamentary question about the faith-based Hizmet movement, underlining that the movement hasn’t been involved in any illegal acts that threaten the foundations of the democratic and constitutional order in the EU country. 

 

The question was submitted in the Bundestag by the Left Party, known for its sympathies for the terrorist Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and its related organizations in Germany.

Responding to the parliamentary question, the German government, which is led by Chancellor Angela Merkel, said that an extensive assessment of the faith-based movement’s organizations and foundations in Germany had failed to find any evidence of involvement in any wrongdoing or illegal activity.

The Left Party’s parliamentary question asked about the level of cooperation between the German government and Hizmet-affiliated organizations in a number of fields, from education to media and intercultural dialogue.

The Left Party asked whether the Hizmet movement and its followers undermine the basic foundations of the plural and democratic constitution, gender equality, freedom of conscience, separation of powers and freedom of education. “There is no indication showing that the Fethullah Gülen movement is against the plural and democratic constitution,” the government said in response.

The parliamentary question brings the Hizmet movement’s activities in Germany into the spotlight, with the government saying that the movement centers its activities on interfaith dialogue, education and business cooperation forums.

Praising the work of the movement, the government also had good words for Pangea Wettbewerb, an organization supported by the German Ministry of Education that holds competitions in math to pursue its mission of fostering education and assisting students in their studies. The Pangea Mathematics Competition (Pangea Mathematikwettbewerb, http://www.pangea-wettbewerb.de) is nationally recognized competition in Germany and enjoys the support of distinguished scholars.

The government also said that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who visited Germany one month ago, only shared his point of view about the latest developments in Turkey. The government also rejected the claim that Erdoğan had presented documents about the movement to German officials.

Source: Todays Zaman , March 20, 2014


Related News

AKP official: Let sacked public servants eat tree roots

The Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) Isparta branch head, Osman Zabun, has said the civil servants who have recently been dismissed from state institutions over alleged links to the Gülen movement can go and “feed on tree roots” if they don’t want to starve to death.

Report: White House denies remarks attributed to Obama about Gülen

White House has reportedly denied remarks attributed to US President Barack Obama about Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, describing them as “not accurate.” Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Thursday during a live TV interview that Obama received “the message” about his complaint of Gülen residing in the US.

Turkey’s Global Anti-Gülen Crusade Puts Tbilisi in Diplomatic Bind

Mustafa Emre Çabuk is out of prison but not out of trouble. The Turkish national, who for the past 15 years ran a Gülen school in the Georgian capital, Tblisi, is the latest international educator caught up in Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s anti-Gülenist campaign.

Former politicians call on candidates to publicize personal assets

One hundred politicians who previously served in Parliament, including former ministers, issued a declaration on Saturday calling on the candidates in the upcoming local elections to declare their personal assets to the public to prevent allegations of bribery and corruption.

Corruption probe [in Turkey]

Radikal’s Cüneyt Özdemir said that even if some people interpret the corruption operation as a manifestation of the rift between the Hizmet movement and the government, it does not reduce the importance and seriousness of the allegations directed against the detainees. “The fact that it involves the general manager of a state-run bank and the sons of three ministers shows us the importance of this investigation,” he said.

Belgium firm to sue Turkey over Gülen-linked assets

A Belgian company, Cascade Investments NV, has launched an $80 million arbitration claim against Turkey in the World Bank’s International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ISCID).

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

Which Turks hate Israel most?

Pro-gov’t media continues smear campaign against Hizmet movement

Ankara assassination: Why Erdogan blames the Gulenists and ignores the jihadists

US Rep. Scott: Gülen movement cannot be designated as “terrorist organization”

Mind-polluting leaks about Hizmet movement

Turkish school excels in Nepal

Ruling AKP officials downplay tension with Gülen movement

Copyright 2026 Hizmet News