GYV says claims Hizmet formed political party one big lie

(Photo: Today's Zaman)
(Photo: Today's Zaman)


Date posted: November 5, 2014

The Journalists and Writers Foundation (GYV), whose honorary chairman is Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, released a statement on its website on Wednesday strongly rejecting claims that the Hizmet movement formed a political party.

It said it is impossible for a civil society movement that is supported by millions of volunteers from various political views to form or make someone form a political party. “This claim, which is frequently and intentionally brought to the agenda, is just a big lie,” the GYV statement said.

Noting that volunteers of Hizmet respect all political movements that do not resort to violence or terror, which is against international laws, the GYV said the fact that the movement is respected in many countries of different religions and ethnicities is a result of it being a civil movement.

“The approach of this volunteer movement to politics is based on fundamental principles such as rule of law, democracy, plurality, universal human rights and freedoms, justice, equality, abiding by international laws and agreements, transparency of the state and accountability,” the statement said, adding that volunteers of Hizmet support any political party that follows policies compatible with these principles of their own free will and personal preference.

The Hizmet movement, whose members follow the principles of Gülen, is known for its cultural and educational activities in Turkey and around the world along with its efforts to promote intercultural and interfaith activities.

“It is very normal for an individual who was influenced by the community’s [Hizmet] culture to become active in politics of his own will,” the statement continued, stressing that the principle of Hizmet not to form a political party should not interfere with an individual’s choice to be active in politics.

Underlining that volunteers of Hizmet eagerly want Turkey to become a real democracy and have a transparent state of law, the statement said the movement will continue to stay within the framework of a civilian initiative and maintain its position in favor of democratic rights and freedoms.

Pro-government circles in Turkey frequently raise claims that Hizmet is forming a new party. These claims have been brought to the agenda again after an independent deputy who resigned from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) late last year formed a new political party.

Kütahya deputy İdris Bal established the Democratic Development Party (DGP) on Tuesday after filing a petition at the Interior Ministry. Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday while promoting his party, Bal denied claims that he decided to form the party after having talks with Gülen. He said he would be honored if either Gülen or other opinion leaders in the country lend their support to his party.

Source: Today's Zaman , November 5, 2014


Related News

Former Daimler chairman: Turkey’s purge reminds of me beginning of Nazi era

Edzard Reuter, the son of the first mayor of West Berlin Ernst Reuter and the former chairman of the German automaker Daimler-Benz, said Turkey’s post-coup purge recalls what happened during early years of Nazi regime at his home country.

Gülen among TIME magazine’s 100 most influential people

Turkish scholar Fethullah Gülen has made it onto Time magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people in the world. This is the 10th year the magazine has listed its 100 most influential people shaping the world. This year, the magazine put seven cover portraits of “TIME 100” honorees who it said reflect the “breadth […]

Clash of two Islams in Turkey

Mr. Gulen and the movement which takes his name are rooted in the mystical tradition of Islam and focus on education and social and cultural projects while Mr. Erdogan is an advocate for political Islam and its desire for political power.

Trustees seize control of schools in government-led move

A judge in İstanbul has ordered that trustees be appointed to 12 companies, including the FEM and Anafen prep schools established by people sympathetic to the faith-based Gülen movement for allegedly being affiliated with Kaynak Holding.

What does Turkey deserve?

Once the remaining human capital exits Turkey, the country will be left to bigoted seculars and even more bigoted political Islamists. Given the shameful silence and support for the worst witch-hunt the country has ever witnessed, maybe this is what Turkey deserves: swaying between secular authoritarianism and popular Islamist dictatorship.

US, Gülen to trigger artificial earthquake(!) in İstanbul, Ankara mayor says

Ankara’s mayor Melih Gökçek claimed in series of tweets from his personal account on Saturday that external powers, including the US, is planning to trigger a artificial eartquake in İstanbul along theGülen Movement. “I had said FETO and US expects an earthquake in İstanbul in August 14 similar to the Gölcük eartquake in 1999. I ruined their plan after revealing in TVs. But the propoganda continues. The plan was to trigger an earthquake in İstanbul to destroy Turkey’s economy as US promised to FETO,” Gökçek wrote.

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

Somalian Ambassador, “We Felt the Eid with Turkish Aids”

Gülen-inspired schools lead in university entrance exam results

Turkish Schools in Africa

Fethullah Gulen: Turkey’s Eroding Democracy (op-ed in NY Times)

TUSKON encourages businessmen to shift sights toward India

Kyrgyz President Atambayev: Turkish schools will not be closed

Portrait of the Gülen Brotherhood, sworn enemy of Turkey’s President Erdogan

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News