Theologians: Lies, slander and defamation is unislamic


Date posted: March 27, 2014

ISTANBUL
Islamic theologians coming together in a workshop organized by the Journalists and Writers Foundation (GYV) have condemned recent allegations directed at the faith-based Hizmet movement by top government officials, stating that it is unislamic to engage in lies, slander and defamation.

A workshop titled “Siyasetin Dilindeki Din” (Religion in political language) was held at Swissotel The Bosphorus hotel in İstanbul’s Beşiktaş district to discuss from a religious perspective the attacks which have been directed at the Hizmet movement by top government officials, ever since a major corruption investigation became public on Dec. 17 of last year. On Thursday, the final declaration of the workshop was released. The declaration was read by Associate Professor Ayhan Tekineş from Sakarya University’s Theology Faculty. Tekineş said that the Islamic theologians at the workshop condemn those who resort to lies, slander and defamation in a systematic and persistent way, despite such behaviors being strictly forbidden in Islam. Tekineş also asserted that this type of behavior may cause irreversible damage between Muslims living together peacefully in the country.

The theologians strongly criticized government officials, who have referred to Fethullah Gülen, a highly regarded and prominent scholar who is honorary chairman of the GYV, using expressions such as “false prophet,” “fake saint,” “hashashin [a medieval assassin],” “traitor” and “terrorist,” stating that directing such defamatory words to a respected Islamic figure never is not compatible with religion and morality. The theologians also said that the defamation campaign against Gülen is a contemptuous gesture to all Islamic scholars in Turkey.

In the declaration, the theologians drew attention to the fact that a Justice and development Party (AK Party) deputy called Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan a “person who has all the characteristics of God,” stating that describing a human being in this way is not acceptable in Islam. The theologians added that remarks that “he [Erdoğan] is like a second prophet for us [AK Party members]” and “the eternal leader” used by some AK Party members are also unacceptable.

Mentioning the remarks of AK Party İstanbul deputy Metin Külünk, who defended corruption in the government by stating that the investigation is “a blow to an individual’s right to commit sins,” the theologians said that Külük’s comments were “beneath contempt.”

Stating that the followers of the Hizmet movement have been exposed to a variety of insults and slander by the government over the past three months and that government officials had accused followers of being false Muslims, the theologians recalled one of Prophet Muhammad’s “hadiths,” that says that anyone who accuses a believer of being an unbeliever will inevitably suffers the consequences, if the allegation turns out to be untrue.

A large-scale and underhand propaganda campaign is alleged to have been conducted against the Hizmet movement and Gülen by some circles close to the AK Party government, particularly after the corruption scandal which implicated three Cabinet ministers’ sons, many state bureaucrats and well-known businessmen. Government officials have accused the Hizmet movement of orchestrating a plot against the government and of using the corruption investigation to damage the government.

Source: Todays Zaman , March 27, 2014


Related News

Foreign Affairs: Turkish government’s ‘Global Purge’ targeted opponents in at least 46 countries

Turkish government has been hunting its opponents abroad, particularly the supporters of the Gulen movement since before and after the failed putsch on July 15, 2016, the article said adding that government’s alleged enemies were targeted at least in 46 countries.

Turkish family drowned in Aegean Sea while escaping from Erdogan regime

Victims of Erdogan regime are increasing everyday as there has not been an effective mechanism preventing him. A Turkish Family with three children drowned in Aegean Sea while escaping from Erdogan’ autocratic regime as they had last their hope to survive in Turkey.

Nigerian federal gov’t on arrested students: Turkey on a vendetta mission

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaye, has said that the Nigerian students who were arrested in Turkey for an alleged role in the July coup attempt in Turkey may have been paying for the refusal of the Nigerian government to shut down some Turkish schools and institutions in Nigeria.

Art exhibition tells story of deficiency

Housed inside the building of APCO Worldwide, an independent communications consultancy firm, the art exhibition consists of 19 photographs taken by volunteers who participated in Kimse Yok Mu initiatives around the world, including in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, Somalia and Sudan. The exhibition will be open until Feb. 16.

Turkey’s spying imams also active in Norway: monitoring group

Norwegian Islamist religious organizations that are affiliated with the Turkish government and its Religious Affairs Directorate (Diyanet) are reportedly involved in unlawful profiling activities of unsuspecting people of Turkish origin across Norway.

Kalashnikov-carrying police raid Gülen-inspired girls’ dormitory

Police officers carrying Kalashnikov rifles conducted a raid at a girls’ school dormitory in eastern Van province on Sunday, a move that is seen as part of an ongoing government-orchestrated operation targeting the faith-based Gülen movement, popularly known as the Hizmet movement.

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

What to know about the group Erdogan is blaming for Turkey’s coup

Kimse Yok Mu volunteer physicians bring light to eyes in Darfur

Class-B shareholders join objection against Asya decision

Romanian Senate president inaugurates Turkish school in Romania

Kimse Yok Mu, Philippines sign agreement to further aid cooperation

Hizmet Movement blog now available in Portuguese and Arabic

Turkey cooperating with Israel to help Gaza

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News