Erdoğan says personally pursuing fight against ‘parallel structure’

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan speaks at the presidential palace in this file photo. (Photo: Office of the President via Cihan)
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan speaks at the presidential palace in this file photo. (Photo: Office of the President via Cihan)


Date posted: January 27, 2016

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan acknowledged during a speech on Tuesday that he has personally been pursuing a “fight” against the so-called “parallel structure,” adding that his administration is ready to cooperate with district governors to “clear” its members from state bureaucracy.

Speaking to the district governors at his presidential palace in Ankara on Tuesday, Erdoğan explicitly acknowledged his involvement in what he calls the fight against alleged sympathizers of the Hizmet movement, also known as the Gülen movement, in the state’s bureaucracy.

“We rapidly need to rid the bureaucracy of every single member of this structure, which poses a great threat to our state. I want you [district governors] to carry out careful work against the parallel state. You have my support. You can call my private secretary any time and give any information you have. Because, I am personally pursuing this fight,” Erdoğan stated.

The “parallel structure” is a term invented by Erdoğan to refer to followers of the Hizmet movement that was inspired by Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, particularly followers within the state’s bureaucracy. He made the elimination of the so-called parallel structure a priority after a major corruption scandal involving people in his inner circle erupted with a wave of detentions on Dec. 17, 2013.

The president also maintained that the main responsibility of the State Audit Institution (DDK), which is part of the President’s Office, is to closely examine every single state institution and detect those who have a connection to the Hizmet movement.

“The fight against the parallel structure is being closely followed by the National Security Council (MGK) and the DDK. This is an issue of national security,” Erdoğan added.

The president, who was prime minister at the time, framed the corruption investigation as a “plot against his government” by the Hizmet movement and foreign collaborators. At the same time, the government introduced laws to expand its grip on the judiciary. It banned Twitter and dismissed thousands of judges, prosecutors and police officers, including those who were involved in the investigation.

In a public speech made in May 2014, Erdoğan vowed “not to give even water” to the movement’s members. He also said that he would carry out a “witch hunt” against anyone with links to the Gülen movement. “If reassigning individuals who betray this country is called a witch hunt, then yes, we will carry out this witch hunt.”

Erdoğan also ordered officials from AK Party-run municipalities to seize land and buildings belonging to those inspired by the movement by any means necessary. The Gülen movement strongly denies the allegations of masterminding the graft investigations as part of an effort to overturn the government.

As part of the government’s fight against the Gülen movement, the Penal Courts of Peace were set up by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) in June 2014.

Erdoğan to governors: Confiscate cars owned by HDP municipalities if needed

During the meeting at the presidential palace, Erdoğan also talked about the situation in southeastern Turkey, the scene of fierce clashes between the security forces and members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) that have been going on for months.

Erdoğan accused the municipalities affiliated with the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) of being under the control of the PKK, adding that district governors are free to confiscate the official cars of those members if they needed the extra vehicles for their work.

“The terrorist organization [PKK] is carrying out a dirty war in the Southeast. [HDP] municipalities are completely under the control of them [PKK militants]. Moreover, we see that some public officials openly support them. Our security forces are currently carrying out careful operations to clear the region of them. You [district governors] also have an important job to do. You need to take action and repair the damage in the region. If necessary, confiscate their vehicles or use other institution’s vehicles,” Erdoğan stated.

A large number of civilians have been killed in confrontations between security forces and the PKK in southeastern towns and cities since a fragile cease-fire collapsed in late July 2015. Curfews lasting weeks have been imposed on several particularly tense districts in the provinces of Diyarbakır, Hakkari, Mardin, Şırnak and Van.

Source: Today's Zaman , January 26, 2016


Related News

How did we step into the missionary threat trap?

After the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) assumed office in 2002, the “missionary threat” was brought to the agenda of the National Security Council (MGK) out of the blue. This council had been acting just like a shadow cabinet as it was dominated by top brass commanders and enjoyed powers and authorities that were […]

AK Party takes action to expel deputy who opposed closure of prep schools

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) referred Kütahya deputy İdris Bal — who opposed the government’s planned closure of prep schools (dershanes) — to the party’s disciplinary board for expulsion on Thursday. Bal, reiterating his opposition to the closure of prep schools, he said that such a move would violate the Constitution.

Needy Romanians provided with aid by students of Turkish school

Students studying at International Bucharest College, opened by entrepreneurs affiliated with Hizmet Movement, distributed aid boxes to economically disadvantaged students at the weekend. Arriving at Dambovitsa village, 45 kilometers away from Bucharest, students from 42 different nations went to the houses of the people and gave them aid boxes.

Turkey pays a price for purging counterterror professionals

In the wake of the abortive July 15 coup, he purged thousands of experienced counter-terror police and rotated others out of areas they know best. In effect, this means the Turkish security and police are operating blind. It can take years to gain the experience in any particular locality that those whom Erdogan fired had.

Turkey’s AKP planning to blame Hizmet movement for Deep State’s crimes

Online government whistleblower Fuat Avni has claimed that the government is concocting a plan to blame the clandestine assassinations of the ‘deep state’ and the violent domestic acts planned by the National Intelligence Agency (MİT) on the Hizmet movement.

Turkish PM Erdoğan’s way worries and puzzles

Erdoğan’s political calculations for his strategy do not seem to make much sense to many. Why has he chosen to alienate the Hizmet movement now and not after the elections? Why is he even more furious with the remaining independent media than before? Is he doing all this and others to win or is this a heavy gamble, in despair, to lose or win everything?

Latest News

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

University refuses admission to woman jailed over Gülen links

In Case You Missed It

The Process Behind Turkey’s Proposed Extradition of Fethullah Gülen

Turkish investors To Inject Capital Into Ghana’s Economy

Losing rationality in politics and the economy

TÜBİTAK official says forced to make changes to bugging device report

Celebrating Turkish Cultural Day

UN Concerned About Albanian Deportations of Turkish ‘Gulenists’

Doğan: Gülen stood against anti-cemevi campaigns

Copyright 2023 Hizmet News