Arınç calls Gülen’s extradition request a ‘political move’

Deputy PM Bülent Arınç (Photo: AA)
Deputy PM Bülent Arınç (Photo: AA)


Date posted: September 11, 2014

Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç has described the Turkish government’s request to the US for the extradition of Pennsylvania-based Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen as a “political move.”

Speaking to journalists following the Cabinet meeting on Monday, Arınç added that he does not know how US would react to this political request. Admitting that there is no legal base for Gülen’s extradition, the deputy prime minister said that without the necessary documents, evidence and a court order, it is not possible to get someone extradited from a country.

“I cannot know what the reaction of a certain country would be in this case of an individual [Gülen] where there aren’t any legal processes under way or a court verdict. There may be judicial assistance between the two countries and sometimes there are extradition agreements between countries, but all of these require prosecution and a conviction. The Turkish Republic is a state governed by the rule of law,” said Arınç.

He also added that the Turkish National Intelligence Organization (MİT) and US intelligence can work together on the issue of the “parallel structure” in Turkey.

Ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) officials use the term “parallel structure” to refer to the faith-based Hizmet movement.

According to reports in the Turkish media on Sunday, while speaking to journalists on his way back to Turkey from a NATO summit in Wales, Erdoğan was asked if he had requested the extradition of Gülen. Erdoğan had told Turkish media outlets prior to the summit that he would ask Obama to extradite the Islamic scholar.

Erdoğan claims that Gülen poses a threat to Turkey’s national security by allegedly controlling the faith-based Hizmet movement in Turkey, which the government claims is attempting to topple the Turkish government. Gülen lives in self-imposed exile in the US, though there is no legal hurdle preventing him from returning to Turkey.

According to the Turkish press, Erdoğan said on the plane when returning from Wales that during his meeting with Obama, he had mentioned the so-called “parallel structure.”

“In particular I emphasized to [Obama] the need for our intelligence organizations to coordinate more closely on this issue and the need to focus on this [parallel] structure which threatens Turkey’s national security,” Erdoğan said.

Erdoğan also said that in addition to collaboration between intelligence agencies, the US State Department and the Turkish Foreign Ministry will work together and follow the “parallel structure” very closely.

When asked how Obama will approach the issue, Erdoğan said: “At this point, of course, their [the US officials’] approach is to ask for all the documents and information from us about this matter.”

Arınç also touched on the deadly work incident that left 10 workers dead when an elevator carrying workers plunged to the ground from the 32nd floor of a building under construction.

Stressing that the Cabinet had discussed the issue for three hours on Monday, Arınç said Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu had asked the Prime Ministry Inspection Board to investigate the incident. Arınç added that the government will work on an occupational safety action plan and that even though the workers who died in the incident are not “martyrs,” the government will nevertheless provide dependents with a pension.

Source: Today's Zaman , September 9, 2014


Related News

Erdogan plotted purge before coup, say Brussels spies

he European intelligence contradicts the Turkish government’s claim that Fethullah Gülen, an exiled cleric, was behind the plot to overthrow the Turkish government. Ankara is seeking Mr Gülen’s extradition from the US.

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

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.”

2,500 schools confiscated, 30,000 teachers dismissed over Gülen links

Turkish Education Ministry Undersecretary Yusuf Tekin on Sunday said they have completed a purge of Gülen movement members and institutions in his ministry, the DHA news agency reported.

Post-Kemalist Turkey and the Gülen Movement

The Gülen Movement was known for the cool-headed decisions it took at the risk of severe criticism during Turkey’s most difficult times. Today, it would be expected that the same movement will display a similar rationality in a changing Turkey.

The Encyclopedia of Islam and hate speech

Erdoğan’s obvious target was Fethullah Gülen, but it is clear that he also attacked anyone who doesn’t think like him with phrases such as “false prophets,” “fake mystics” and “so-called scholars.” This denigration is problematic especially in terms of secularism. Indeed, the prime minister hurls gross insults at religious interpretations that diverge from his own. In his capacity as a prime minister, he imposes his beliefs and acts onto those who do not think like him. One step beyond these remarks would be the prime minister’s supporters’ resorting to violence against those he places on the bull’s eye.

Fethullah Gulen Suggests Nonviolent Options to Young Activists

Fethullan Gulen suggests some ways to the young activist group that are not based on violence and that are for peace. I think it’s necessary to understand the significance of education and school projects in particular. I try to express this in my articles. Akman: Why are you more interested in sociology of religion? Ozdalga*: […]

Latest News

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

University refuses admission to woman jailed over Gülen links

In Case You Missed It

Turkish scholar Fethullah Gulen receives Manhae Peace Prize

Meal and food support for Somalian people during Ramadan

Cyber attacks on news websites threaten freedom of press, expression

Volunteer doctors to perform surgeries in Mali under leadership of Kimse Yok Mu

Turkey dismisses another 330 academics, brings total to 7,316

Bride, groom detained in bridal car while on way to wedding venue

Parents of Nigerian-Turkish International College students decry call to close schools

Copyright 2023 Hizmet News