Gülen’s lawyer: a civilian structure demonized by fictitious slurs

Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen is pictured in his home in Pennsylvania. (Photo: Today's Zaman)
Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen is pictured in his home in Pennsylvania. (Photo: Today's Zaman)


Date posted: October 21, 2014

Nurullah Albayrak, the lawyer of Muslim scholar Fethullah Gülen, rejected the Sabah daily’s headline story on Monday titled “Parallel Council,” saying pro-government outlets aim to distract attention from anti-government corruption assertions by making false claims about the Hizmet movement.

Albayrak said “the parallel nonsense is ruthlessness.”

“[In] the parallel paranoia, which has been carried out for a long time with strong media propaganda support and through an immoral strategy, intellectual and financially independent civil society organizations that are distant from holders of power are intended to be intimidated and exterminated. This is the aim of the recent [legislative proposals of ] ‘reasonable doubt’ and the ‘seizure of properties’ [of dissidents], which completely contradict the constitutional rights and liberties and European Union values,” said the lawyer in a written statement on Monday.

Gülen always reiterates that the volunteers of the movement, which aims to spread education and interfaith dialogue around the world, “has no intention but to serve humanity and has no capital other than love,” said Albayrak, asserting also that Hizmet is a civil society organization that works to institute humanitarian values in all corners of the world. Unlike what is stated in the news, Gülen, his friends and students, some of whom have been acquainted with Gülen for nearly half a century, are in no way involved in any illegal activities, and any claim that they and the followers of Hizmet are members of an illegal crime organization or a parallel-state structure are unacceptable and slander, he said.

Source: Today's Zaman , October 20, 2014

Tags: | | | |


Related News

Twelve questions Turkey’s journalists can’t ask

Erdoğan was born to a relatively poor family in Rize, along the Black Sea. His father was in the coast guard and worked at sea. Erdoğan at one point even sold snacks on the street to make extra cash. He graduated from a religious school in 1973, and immediately embarked on a political career, eventually becoming first mayor of Istanbul. So here’s the question: How did a man like Erdoğan become a billionaire several times over?

8 detained in police raids on İzmir schools as Erdoğan’s witch hunt continues

Eight people were detained on charges of forging documents in police raids on 30 private schools established by volunteers from the faith-based Gülen movement early on Tuesday in İzmir, as part of a Justice and Development Party (AAK Party government-orchestrated operation targeting the movement.

AK Party’s Deputy Günay joins intra-party opposition to prep school ban

Another deputy from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) has criticized a recent government plan to shut down prep schools, saying that these institutions are not the cause of problems in the education system but a consequence of the current system. Günay’s remarks come one day after the AK Party referred Kütahya deputy İdris Bal to the party’s disciplinary board for expulsion after he opposed the government’s plan to close prep schools.

The next phase in Turkey’s political violence – third and coming coup could be the most violent

It has now been almost three months since the failed coup in Turkey. The events of July 15 were predictable, but they nevertheless mark a watershed in modern Turkish history. Still, it would be a mistake to view the coup as a single event. Turkey actually experienced two coups, but it will be the third and coming coup which could be the most violent and might very well cost Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan his life.

Gezi anniversary reminder of Erdogan’s nine lives

Although Gulen was Erdogan’s principle ally in clipping the wings of the staunchly secularist Turkish military, he quickly became his nemesis and thousands of policemen, and prosecutors accused of being Gulen followers were dismissed or displaced in what amounted to a sweeping political pogrom.

I’m ashamed

A defamation campaign was kicked off to demonize the Hizmet movement — just as the “deep state” would do in the past — and a witch hunt was launched in various state organs. Despite the fact that the prep school debate started months ago, the probe was portrayed as part of it.

Latest News

Sacramento leaders gather for Iftar dinner in celebration of Ramadan

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

In Case You Missed It

Georgia revokes decision to freeze Gulen-linked university’s student intake

‘Gülen movement challenges culture of competition’

Fethullah Gulen Acquitted

Erdogan’s endless legitimacy crisis

Turkey’s Wrong Turn

Violent Extremism

Mothers meet in İstanbul to mark Mother’s Day, see their children

Copyright 2026 Hizmet News