Perinçek: I have Erdoğan’s support in fighting Gülen movement

İP leader Doğu Perinçek. (Photo: Cihan)
İP leader Doğu Perinçek. (Photo: Cihan)


Date posted: January 8, 2016

Doğu Perinçek, the Workers’ Party (İP) leader who was given a life sentence in 2013 as part of a trial concerning the Ergenekon terrorist organization, has said he has been “fighting a battle” against the faith-based Gülen movement since the 1970s and that now President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is supporting him and the İP in the fight.

In an interview with Turkish news portal Haberdar on Tuesday, Perinçek openly acknowledged his involvement in the escalating government witch hunt against the faith-based Gülen movement, popularly known as the Hizmet movement and inspired by the teachings of Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen.

“He [Erdoğan] supports us. We are the ones who started this [witch hunt]. We have been fighting with the Gülen movement since the 1970s, not him. … The [Justice and Development Party] AK Party has now come to the same conclusion as us on the [Gülen] movement,” Perinçek stated.

Due to an AK Party government-backed law abolishing specially authorized courts (ÖYM) and reducing the maximum period of detention before a final verdict on an appeal to five years, Perinçek was released in 2014.

After his release he made many statements on various platforms, saying Turkey has turned into a country where “movements, mullahs and religious groups” are widespread and vowing “wipe them all out.”

Since Turkey’s largest corruption investigation was made public on Dec. 17, 2013, following police operations in the homes and offices of people from the inner circle of the AK Party, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the AK Party leadership have accused sympathizers of the Gülen movement, especially those in the police forces and judiciary, of plotting to overthrow the government. The movement strongly rejects the allegations brought against it.

Since the scandal, a number of business groups, media outlets, aid organizations, civil society organizations, universities, private schools and prep schools that were established by people sympathetic to the Gülen movement have been targeted by government-orchestrated police raids and investigations.

Erdoğan openly announced on several occasions after December 2013 that he would carry out a “witch hunt” against everyone with links to the movement. He has also ordered officials in AK Party-run municipalities to seize land and buildings belonging to institutions that are linked to the Gülen movement by any means necessary.

Source: Today's Zaman , January 07, 2016


Related News

Criminal complaint filed against prosecutor accusing Hizmet of being terrorist

A criminal complaint has been filed against Ankara public prosecutor Serdar Coşkun, who prepared an indictment in which by using false testimonies as evidence he accused several people of conducting organized crime under the Hizmet movement which he claimed to be a terrorist organization.

The gov’t in Turkey is committing genocide

Fundamental human rights and freedoms have been suspended in Turkey, people’s right to work, freedom of the press, the right to property ownership, the right to a defense in a court of law, the right to travel and the right to a fair trial have all been annulled while the principle of presumption of innocence has been totally disregarded. People have been subjected to collective punishment through the practice of “enemy law.”

Women gather for UN development agenda in İstanbul

Women, tasked studies on poverty, woman, child, education, environment and health mostly within the body of the UN came together for a program held by the Journalists and Writers Foundation (GYV). With the event titled “Women’s Perspectives on UN Post-2015 Development Agenda” various sessions on nongovernmental organizations and developments targets, environment and economy will be held.

GYV praised for response to accusations about Hizmet movement

GYV Chairman Mustafa Yeşil said the foundation has received very positive reactions to its 11-article statement, adding that many people found the statement an “honorable” and “courteous” one. AK Party Adıyaman deputy Mehmet Metiner said by releasing Tuesday’s statement, the GYV has taken a very valuable step that “spoils the games of some evil circles that want to create hostility between the government and the Hizmet movement.”

Man dies in Maritsa River while fleeing persecution in Turkey

The body of Mustafa Zümre, a computer engineer has been found in the Maritsa River 78 days after he went missing. He had arrest warrant issued due to alleged Gülen links, reportedly went to the Umurca village of Edirne’s Meriç district along with his wife and two children on Dec. 12 to cross the Maritsa River to reach Greece in order to escape the witch-hunt against the Gülen followers in Turkey.

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.

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

Taiwanese scholar: Hizmet movement bears similarities to Confucianism

Turkish schools get award for advanced study in Benin, Mongolia

Kimse Yok Mu offers vocational training for Kyrgyz orphans

Alevi demands remain unfulfilled as their disappointment grows

(Not a joke) Turkish governor: ISIL terrorist detonated himself in construction site not to harm neighbors

Interview with the Journalists and Writers Foundation Chairman Mustafa Yeşil: Questioning the Gülen Movement: Truths, Lies, and Conspiracies

İstanbul municipality tears down part of school in midnight operation

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News