‘Removal of Gülen’s books from NT shelves offends the public’

Former Culture and Tourism Minister Ertuğrul Günay. (Photo: Cihan)
Former Culture and Tourism Minister Ertuğrul Günay. (Photo: Cihan)


Date posted: December 4, 2015

HASAN ÇİLİNGİR / IZMIR

Former Culture and Tourism Minister Ertuğrul Günay has condemned a recent decision made by the new trustees of Kaynak Holding to have all copies of books written by Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen removed from the shelves of NT bookstores across the country, saying that the “indecent” act of censorship offends the public.

“This is an indecent act [of censorship]. Mr. Gülen’s books largely deal with issues related to religion. These books, which are widely read, are not dealing with political issues and there have been no complaints filed against them. Acts such as this are aimed at disturbing [the faith-based Gülen movement] and offend the public. I think what they [the trustees appointed by the government] did is inappropriate … It can’t be explained by reason, law, ethics, love or respect,” Günay told Today’s Zaman on Friday.

Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu, former president of the Association of Human Rights and Solidarity for Oppressed Peoples (MAZLUM-DER), criticized the decision made by the new trustees of Kaynak Holding, saying: “This censorship has no legal basis. It is derived from feelings of hatred, anger and revenge [against] one person [Gülen]. The removal of the books without any court order is shameful. I hope people somehow see this madness.”

Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) İstanbul deputy Akif Hamzeçebi also said he regarded the censorship as “primitive.”

The nationwide NT bookstore chain is one of 23 companies operating under the umbrella of Kaynak Holding, which also owns the country’s largest publisher, Kaynak Publishing House.

Gülen has written dozens of books in which he promotes ideals such as peaceful co-existence with others, inter-religious and intercultural dialogue, democratic values, altruism, deepening one’s religious values and the fight against extremism and radicalism.

Despite the clear stance he has taken against terrorism and the lack of even a single piece of related evidence, Gülen and the movement that he inspires, the faith-based Gülen (or Hizmet) movement, have been facing accusations of terrorism in Turkey over the past two years under the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government.

Accusations against the movement came after the revelation of a corruption probe in late 2013 in which Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s close circle was implicated. Erdoğan accuses the movement of masterminding the probe despite the movement denying this. Since then, individuals and organizations that are thought to be linked with the Gülen movement have been targeted by the witch hunt.

The appointment of trustees, who are responsible for the recent censorship of Gülen’s books, to Kaynak Holding is part of this witch hunt.

After the publication and sale of Gülen’s books, which are read and appreciated around the world in many languages, were banned by the government-appointed trustees in Kaynak Holding, it now is a matter for concern whether Kaynak Publishing House will be used to print books on political Islam and if Gülen’s books at NT bookstores will be replaced by ones that promote political Islam and extremism.

Source: Today's Zaman , December 04, 2015


Related News

Fethullah Gülen’s response to the ‘clash of civilizations’ thesis

RICHARD PENASKOVIC* If Mr. Huntington is a protagonist for Western civilization, then Mr. Gülen is his counterpart, serving as a spokesperson or champion for moderate Islam. The differences between them are like night and day. Mr. Gülen argues that by creating new enemy fronts, Huntington actually sows the seeds for a clash of civilizations on […]

HAPPENING NOW: Police await outside Esenyurt Eslife hospital to detain woman who just gave birth

A group of police officers reportedly await outside Esenyurt Eslife Hospital in order to detain a woman who gave birth late on July 3, according to tweets posted by the woman’s family members.

Turkey requests extradition of Fethullah Gülen but not for coup attempt, says US

The US has confirmed it has received a formal extradition request from Ankara for the Turkish cleric Fethullah Gülen, but not over the July coup attempt the Turkish authorities has accused Gülen of orchestrating.

Gulen: Issuance of arrest warrant changes nothing about my views

The issuance of an arrest warrant from a Turkish court changes nothing about my status or my views. I have repeatedly condemned the coup attempt in Turkey and denied any knowledge or involvement. It is well-documented the Turkish court system is without judicial independence, so this warrant is yet another example of President Erdogan’s drive authoritarianism and away from democracy.

Kimse Yok Mu distributes aid to Syrian refugees

As Turkey is trying to meet the needs of the hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees who have taken shelter in Turkey from the war in Syria, charity organizations have scrambled to launch massive aid campaigns to lend a hand to the embattled refugees, with Kimse Yok Mu providing food and aid for 2,500 Syrians in İstanbul every week.

Turkish imam in Australia mobilizes worshippers to spy on Gülen movement

Salih Arslan, a member of the board of the Ankara-funded Süleymaniye mosque in the Australian city of Perth, was revealed to have incited worshippers to spy on followers of the Gülen movement and affiliated institutions, including schools.

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

Does Pakistani law allow you to deport Turkish teachers, Nawaz Sharif?

GYV says arrest warrant for Gülen motivated by upcoming election

Turkish firm offers to set up schools in Sindh, Pakistan

Turkey fails to channel money into industry: TUSKON

Canada’s Turkish community on edge as government crackdown continues

Deputy Bal says did not resign from AK Party on anyone’s orders

The Preventive Role of Culture in Women’s Empowerment: Possibilities and Challenges

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News