Gülen’s lawyer: Pro-government media ignores ruling of Supreme Court of Appeals

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


Date posted: February 17, 2015

Nurullah Albayrak, the lawyer representing Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, said in a written statement on Monday that pro-government media outlets continue their false accusations about Gülen and members of the Gülen movement, pointing out that Gülen was acquitted in June 2008 of all allegations that had been leveled against him at that time.

Albayrak claimed that concrete evidence of a crime must be presented before labeling a person, group, community, religious sect or civil society organization as a terrorist organization as defined in law. He explained that Counterterrorism Law (TMK) No. 3713 defines terrorism as “Using force and violence by a person or by persons belonging to an organization with a view to changing the nature of the Republic.”

He stated that no one can be labeled a member of a terrorist organization on the grounds of a report or an indictment written purely on speculation without any evidence. He also indicated that there is not a single court decision declaring the members of the Gülen movement, also known as the Hizmet movement, a terrorist organization. He pointed out that similar accusations were aimed at Gülen back in 2007 when he was accused of wanting to change the secular structure of the Turkish Republic and establish a religious order. He was acquitted by the Ankara 11th Criminal Court, and this decision was later upheld by the Supreme Court of Appeals. According to Albayrak, it is unjust and against the law to call Gülen and the members of the Gülen movement “members of a terrorist organization.”

On Dec. 14, 2014, İstanbul Public Prosecutor Hasan Yılmaz, who is supervising an investigation that put Zaman daily Editor-in-Chief Ekrem Dumanlı and dozens of others into jail, requested an arrest warrant for Gülen as part of the operation targeting journalists, scriptwriters, producers and police officials. The İstanbul 1st Penal Court of Peace accepted the request — the prelude to a formal request for Gülen’s extradition from the US where he is living in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania.

Rejecting any personal relations between Gülen and the arrested police officers, Albayrak said that presenting the police officers’ guns as evidence of participation in an armed terrorist organization when they are legally allowed to carry guns cannot be justified.

Source: Today's Zaman , February 16, 2015


Related News

RTÜK issues fines to intimidate Samanyolu TV

The Supreme Board of Radio and Television (RTÜK) has been harassing TV networks that it deems to be anti-government, and Samanyolu TV has become one of its major targets. The fines have mostly come following the Dec. 17, 2013 corruption operation, in which several businessmen close to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the sons of three ministers were detained over corruption charges.

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.

U.S., Turkey at impasse over extraditing Muslim cleric living in Poconos

Turkey says the United States is legally bound by a treaty to immediately hand over Fethullah Gulen, the Poconos-based Muslim cleric it accuses of plotting to overthrow Turkey’s government.

Turkish paper says journalist expelled for criticizing Erdogan

“A body linked to the prime minister received a tip that I insulted high-level officials and informed the Interior Ministry (which) decided to deport me,” Zeynalov said by phone from the Azeri capital Baku, adding his application to renew his permit to work as a journalist in Turkey had been denied last month.

GYV Presient Yesil: We knock on all doors

Mustafa Yesil is the president of the Journalists and Writers Foundation (GYV), which is known as the Gulen community’s institutional representative. He has addressed a wide range of issues, among them the Gulen movement, eavesdropping, the arrest of Aziz Yildirim (chairman, Fenerbahce soccer team), the National Intelligence Institution’s (MIT’s) head Hakan Fidan’s query.

Is There ‘The Cemaat’ Under Every Stone?

Ilıcak reaches her conclusions based on fact, using interviews, official documents, interviews and other hard evidence to make her point. Her book is a valuable source of information, especially for those who have only read texts from Fethullah Gulen’s opponents. In understanding an issue, it’s imperative to hear both sides of the story.

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-affiliated schools removed from private school incentive list

4 Turkish charity organizations on OCHA’s Nepal list

Fethullah Gulen is hopeful about future

HRW report: No evidence to accuse Gülen movement of terrorism

C. African president: Turkish school will have no trouble in my country

Nigeria: Hizmet Movement not terrorists

Turkish-American community grapples with Turkey coup’s aftermath

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News