INTERPOL and U.S. reject baseless charges against US-based Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen


Date posted: December 14, 2015

Clients often ask if a INTERPOL member country can request another Red Notice after it has been rejected or deleted already by INTERPOL. This concern arises when the Red Notice request is motivated by political concerns or personal vendettas. And, as the case of Fethullah Gülen illustrates, those repeat requests are sometimes made, and INTERPOL usually recognizes them for what they are: more of the same.

INTERPOL has reportedly rejected Turkey’s renewed request for a Red Notice against Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, a cleric who lives in exile in the United States. The decision, reported here, cited a lack of evidence that Gülen had committed any crime, and also referred to political issues raised by Turkish officials.

Turkish prosecutors accused Gülen of being part of a “parallel structure,” which is illegal under the current regime. As reported in Zaman Today,

The term “parallel structure” was invented by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to refer to followers of the Gülen movement, also known as the Hizmet movement, a grassroots social initiative inspired by the ideas of Gülen.

INTERPOL apparently indicated in its decision that it did not recognize the “parallel structure” as a illegal or terrorist organization. In other words, the charges against Gülen appear to have been fabricated based on his political activity. His case is widely viewed as part of a government crackdown on dissidents and political opposition, as described here. U.S. officials have also thus far refused to extradite Gülen back to Turkey.

Source: JD Supra , December 11, 2015


Related News

Turkish mob boss to gov’t: Why bother with diplomacy? We’ll kill Gülen, his followers

Turkey’s infamous mob boss Alaattin Çakıcı implied in a letter to the Justice Ministry that his mafia network could kill Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen in Pennsylvania and his senior followers elsewhere in the world. Çakıcı’s letter came weeks after Turkey’s controversial request that the US extradite Gülen.

Fethullah Gülen strongly condemns US consulate attack, extends condolences

Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen has strongly condemned at attack on US Consulate in Benghazi that killed four Americans, including Libyan ambassador, and expressed deep condolences to the American people. He said he was saddened to learn the death of Christopher Stevens and three other consulate workers and described the ambassador as “guest in Libya.” […]

Erdogan Budgets $150m To Displace Hizmet Schools In Africa

The motive behind Maarif Foundation is to use it as a tool to pressurize African countries to transfer ownership of Hizmet movement linked schools to the Maarif Foundation since the request for the closure of these schools were turned down for lacking in merit.

Misrepresentation of Fethullah Gülen in English-language media

The language in general and the way certain politically significant words are used in some of this media coverage are somewhat problematic in the sense that they fail to present the full picture about Gülen, if not deliberately create doubts and prejudices about him.

Fethullah Gulen named the world’s No. 1 public intellectual

Over half a million people voted in our poll to find the world’s top public intellectual. Of the many voting campaigns that were mounted, only one had a decisive impact on the results. Tom Nuttall on the campaign that delivered Gülen’s victory.

Local priests participate in landmark interfaith trip to Turkey

Paula Doyle Twelve archdiocesan priests are exploring ancient Christian sites and visiting Catholic faith communities in Turkey this week, as part of a trip organized exclusively for Catholic clergy by an organization of Turkish-American Muslims that promotes intercultural and interreligious awareness. Father Alexei Smith, archdiocesan director of ecumenical/interreligious affairs, and Msgr. Thomas Welbers, pastor of […]

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

Erdoğan says his gov’t will carry out ‘witch hunt’

How will prep school controversy influence elections [in Turkey]?

Rumi Forum Pakistan for fostering intercultural dialogue

Dialogue Platform’s Statement on Developments in Turkey

A new Exilic Community: The Hizmet Movement

Australian Relief Organisation awarded “Letter of Appreciation” by the Cambodian Ministry of Rural Development

Philip Clayton on Fethullah Gulen and Hizmet Movement

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News