Lawyer: Gülen will appeal court decision to cancel his green passport

Nurullah Albayrak, the lawyer representing Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, speaks to media in this file photo taken in July, 2014. (Photo: Today's Zaman)
Nurullah Albayrak, the lawyer representing Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, speaks to media in this file photo taken in July, 2014. (Photo: Today's Zaman)


Date posted: January 1, 2015

İZZETTİN ÇİÇEK / ANKARA

Nurullah Albayrak, lawyer for Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, said his client will appeal a Council of State ruling that Gülen’s green passport was obtained illegally.

On Dec. 20, the 10th Chamber of the Council of State repealed a previous verdict by an administrative court in Erzurum province that ruled that the Erzurum Governor’s Office decision to cancel Gülen’s green passport was illegal.

Turkey’s green passport allows the bearer to travel visa-free to certain countries.

Speaking to Today’s Zaman on Sunday, Albayrak noted that per Article 4 of Law No. 5682, which states that certain state officials and retired or resigned public servants are allowed to obtain a green passport after a review of the quality of their service, Gülen’s green passport cannot be cancelled.

“Because the law allows resigned public servants to obtain green passports, the decision [of the Council of State] saying that those who resigned from their positions are not entitled to green passports is not supported by the law,” said Albayrak.

Albayrak noted that Gülen served for 21 years at the the Religious Affairs Directorate and added that, according to the law, public servants who work for at least 10 years can apply for a green passport.

Noting that the legal process regarding Gülen’s green passport has not yet concluded, Albayrak said that Gülen will appeal the Council of State ruling.

Gülen, who resigned from the Directorate of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) as a religious official and preacher in 1981, obtained the green passport after an application to officials in 1991 following a new law that enabled resigned public servants to acquire green passports.

Source: Today's Zaman , December 28, 2014

Tags: | | |


Related News

Political thunder from Turkey rumbles all the way to New Orleans

And how appalling that they should now be exposed to the atrocious anti-Muslim diatribes of a U.S. presidential candidate not all that different from Erdogan in his threats and his bigotry.

Is Hizmet being subjected to genocide?

Indeed, the word genocide brings to our minds mass killings and relocations of members of a race, usually under war-like conditions. Yet, genocide is not a war crime. It is not a type of crime committed against a specific race. Rather, it has wider connotations. This crime may be committed against a specific group, without massacring them and in a peaceful setting.

Fethullah Gülen writes for Politico Europe: Muslims have a unique responsibility in fighting terror

From its founding amid the ashes of Al Qaeda in Iraq, ISIS has dealt in deception as well as death. Despite its name, ISIS represents a perversion of Islam. The group’s dress, flags and slogans cannot hide their abhorrent betrayal of the spirit of this major world faith. Denying this barbaric group a geographical base that emboldens them to claim statehood is a worthwhile goal that all Muslims should support.

Attempting to discredit Gülen by linking him to Israel

A typical example of black propaganda is the “anti-reactionaryism action plan” prepared in cosmic rooms with the intention of destroying the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and the Gülen community in 2009, which was initially denied and passed off as a “piece of paper,” but which led to the trial and sentencing of those who prepared it.

M. Fethullah Gülen: educator, mystic, peacebuilder

Remarkably, President Erdogan has zero evidence to back up his charge that Mr. Gülen was behind the failed coup. If extradited to Turkey, Mr. Gülen would appear before a kangaroo court and be sentenced to death.

TÜBİTAK scolded for hiding olympiad winners were from Hizmet schools

The president and members of the government have scolded the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK) for not revealing that the majority of medal winners at two recent scholastic olympiad events were students from schools affiliated with the Hizmet movement, the Taraf daily reported on Tuesday.

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

Hizmet Movement Declares Core Values with Unified Voice

Central West Africa shows up for TUSKON event

Fethullah Gülen’s message of condolence for veteran journalist Mehmet Ali Birand

Arrested Turkish TV chief writes an open letter from his jail cell

Gülen and the AK Party: A common quest for democracy or something more? (1)

Pro-Gov’t Columnist Suggests Setting Turkey’s Silivri Prison Ablaze To Kill Inmates From Gülen Movement

Did Turkey Really Save Democracy On July 15?

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News