US law professor: Erdoğan’s talk of Gülen extradition ‘foolishness’

Jim Harrington, a US human rights attorney and University of Texas professor
Jim Harrington, a US human rights attorney and University of Texas professor


Date posted: September 7, 2014

Jim Harrington, a US human rights attorney and University of Texas professor, has said that any talk of asking the United States to extradite Turkish-Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen to Turkey is “foolish, absurd and self-serving.”

Harrington is author of “Wrestling with Free Speech, Religious Freedom and Democracy in Turkey: The Political Trials and Times Fethullah Gülen.”

Turkish media reports claimed last week that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan would seek the extradition of Gülen when he meets with US President Barack Obama at the NATO summit that took place last Friday.

Erdoğan, inaugurated last month, has vowed to press on with his battle against Gülen and his supporters, whom he accuses of using influence within the judiciary, police and state bureaucracy to plot against him in his final year as prime minister.

On his plane traveling to Wales for the summit, Erdoğan told reporters the supporters of the “parallel structure” within the state apparatus would be among subjects he would discuss with Obama while there. “Parallel structure” is the expression Erdoğan uses to describe the faith-based Hizmet movement inspired by Gülen.

“Deport him or give him to us,” the pro-government Yeni Şafak daily and other newspapers quoted Erdoğan as saying of Gülen. “Let him come and live in his own country if he says he hasn’t committed a crime.”

According to Harrington, the United States would never honor such a request because, when the George W. Bush administration tried to do it before, a federal court in Pennsylvania blocked the administration and the court reaffirmed the right of Gülen to remain in the United States. The federal court also chastised the administration for attempting such an ill-advised effort, he said.

“Now, the current administration is much less friendly with Recep Tayyip Erdoğan than it was six years ago in 2008. I know from my own talks with officials in the Obama administration and Congress that they would brush off such a request by Erdoğan as political huffing and puffing,” Harrington told Today’s Zaman.

He said Erdoğan obviously does not understand how constitutional protections of free speech and religious freedom function in the United States — or in any democracy. “If he does understand, then he has a callous disregard for human rights.”

“Not only is there no chance the administration would not reject such a foolhardy request, but, even if it didn’t, the courts again would intervene to prevent it. And the American and European human rights communities would strongly oppose this,” the professor said in further remarks.

Harrington also suggested that “Erdoğan would be better advised to respect free speech rights and end his campaign of bullying anyone and everyone who disagrees with him.”

Gülen is in self-imposed exile in the US, although there is no legal hurdle preventing him from returning to Turkey. He has pioneered many educational activities around the world.

Source: Today's Zaman , September 7, 2014


Related News

History will record this [AK Party’s attack on Hizmet] as well

And this [AK Party’s attack on Hizmet] too shall pass and be overcome. As many other problems and painful experiences are left behind, this storm will also become part of history someday. We will be held to account for all of our deeds, even those committed in secret, in the next world. Given that this is reality and that we strongly and firmly believe in it, we will keep walking our path without taking any instance of infidelity to heart.

‘I like the vitality of the participation and the vitality of hospitality within the Hizmet Movement’

I believe, certainly in the United States as I’m experiencing the Hizmet Movement, I’m experiencing extraordinary hospitality, a great warmth of people, a genuine spirit, an openness, a compassionate style.

GYV says arrest warrant for Gülen motivated by upcoming election

The Journalists and Writers Foundation’s (GYV), of which Fethullah Gülen is the honorary president, issued a statement on Wednesday slamming the government-orchestrated arrest warrant for Gülen as a government election tactic.

Gülen says Turkey’s democracy eroding under AK Party rule

Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen has said Turkey, which was not long ago the envy of Muslim-majority countries with its bid to become an EU member and dedication to being a functioning democracy, is reversing progress and clamping down on civil society, the media, the judiciary and free enterprise under the rule of the governing Justice and Development Party (AK Party).

Corruption investigation: Questions that will hound PM Erdoğan

Everyone is wondering now what is behind the corruption investigation, and the first “suspect” to come to many minds is the Islamist Gülen movement. Tensions between this group and the AKP have been rising over the years, and boiled over recently due to the prep-school issue – a matter that has received wide media coverage.

The Gülen movement denies this but the vitriol flying between daily Zaman, which is close to Gülen, and Yeni Şafak, which is staunchly pro-AKP, is enough to give one a sense of the bitter struggle involved.

Niagara Foundation Nebraska bestows Peace and Dialogue Awards

Niagara Foundation’s Nebraska chapter honored the recipients of “Niagara Foundation 2013 Peace and Dialogue Awards” at an award giving ceremony at Cornhusker Marriott Hotel, on November 15th. The ceremony was attended by over 100 guests, including the state’s high profile figures, who also had the opportunity at the event to get informed on Turkey and Anatolian people.

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

PM made the wrong choice

Yes, Love Is a Verb!

African Union president demands more Turkish schools

Irmak TV starts broadcast

Gülen says abusive language to cover up sins is hypocrisy

OKC Thunder’s Enes Kanter laughs off being called a terrorist by Turkish government

Students from 70 countries celebrate graduation in Turkey

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News