Gülen’s lawyer issues written warning to pro-gov’t media outlets

Fethullah Gülen's lawyer Nurullah Albayrak. (Photo: Today's Zaman, Ali Ünal)
Fethullah Gülen's lawyer Nurullah Albayrak. (Photo: Today's Zaman, Ali Ünal)


Date posted: September 4, 2015

Nurullah Albayrak, the lawyer representing Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, on Thursday issued a written warning to pro-government media outlets on social media for their persistent use of the expressions “parallel structure” — a term invented by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to refer to followers of the Hizmet movement — and “Fethullah Gülen terrorist organization” — referred to in the dailies as FETÖ — on the grounds that they are making baseless claims regarding the faith-based movement.

The warning, posted on Albayrak’s Twitter account, notes that Gülen was acquitted of similar accusations of terrorism by a decision from the Ankara 11th High Criminal Court that was later upheld by the Supreme Court of Appeals.

The lawyer states that using the expressions “parallel structure” and “Fethullah Gülen terrorist organization” is unjust and against the law because it violates the principle of presumption of innocence according to Article 38 of the Constitution, which states everyone is presumed innocent unless proven guilty, regardless of the nature or seriousness of the charges against them, in a state governed by the rule of law.

If the pro-government media organs continue to use the two above mentioned expressions, a complaint will be filed against them, Albayrak emphasized in the warning.

When a massive corruption investigation into the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) became public on Dec. 17, 2013, the AK Party responded to the graft allegations by claiming that a “parallel structure” affiliated with Hizmet was behind the corruption probe and that it sought to overthrow his government, although he was unable to produce any proof to support this claim. In May 2014, Erdoğan said he would fight the “parallel structure” by all means, even if this meant a “witch hunt.” He removed police officers and members of the judiciary from their positions and reappointed them to less influential posts or expelled them completely whenever possible.

Several businessmen close to the government as well as the sons of three ministers were detained in the investigation on Dec. 17. However, the probe was stalled after the government took the prosecutors conducting it off the case in response to the allegations leveled against it and it was later discontinued after government-friendly prosecutors took over the case.

Source: Today's Zaman , September 04, 2015


Related News

Symposium concludes: Hizmet movement contributes to world peace

Professors said that Hizmet is an anti-violence group that uses education and dialogue to achieve its goals. Dr. Amidu Olalekan Sanni, Lagos State University, Nigeria: “I think the Hizmet group has been very influential in terms of human development, basically in the area of education and health. The first Hizmet university is actually based in the Nigerian capital of Abuja.”

‘Gülen movement has a specific mission’

… If the [Fethullah] Gülen movement were a small, ineffective community, the AKP would never have disturbed it. Or if the Gülen movement had acted in full cooperation with the government, such a conflict wouldn’t have occurred. But the Gülen movement has a specific mission. What is that mission? They seek to obtain the pleasure of God by leading good religious lives and engaging in educational and social services.

Gülen: purge of public officials seems ‘arbitrary’

The Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, who has inspired the popular civic and social Hizmet (Service) movement, has said that the reassignment of thousands of public officials from their posts without any disciplinary procedures following the Dec. 17, 2013 corruption scandal seems to have been conducted on an arbitrary basis.

Infiltrating or contributing?

None of the academics in attendance reported finding any sign of attempts by movement members to overthrow democracy or even to “grab a bigger share of the pie” for a new elite, shady or otherwise.

Gülen extends condolences to coal mine victims

Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen has extended condolences for victims of the coal mine blast in western Turkish town of Soma, wishing speedy recovery for injured workers.

Witch hunt and AKP’s legacy from Feb. 28

The witch hunt that has been affecting virtually all state institutions as well as private sector companies in recent months has a specific target: a social group, namely the Hizmet movement. Thousands of innocent people are being victimized solely because of their affiliation with or sympathy toward a social group, and no one can raise an objection to this profound injustice.

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

Gulen Slams Turkey Crackdown Before Erdogan Demands Extradition

Conference on Hizmet movement to take place in Senegal

NTIC Foundation: Touching lives in Nigeria

That is Why the Turkish Government could Pay 1 Billion Euros

Detained woman, newborn baby transferred to police station 240 km away from home

Turkish school graduates in Bosnia now teachers at alma maters

Young Peace Ambassadors Academy 2015 Graduation Ceremony

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News