Fethullah Gülen: President Erdogan is suffering from power poisoning

M. Fethullah Gulen
M. Fethullah Gulen


Date posted: July 31, 2016

Viviana Mazza

Interview with US-based Turkish imam who denies any role in the recent failed coup in Turkey

1) EUROPE. Erdogan talked about reinstating the death penalty to “punish treason”. Federica Mogherini (the Italian head of foreign affairs for the European Union) said that, if he does, then the EU membership is out of question for Turkey. Can Europe do anything and does it have anything to offer to Turkey or is it better if Europe and Turkey go their separate ways? What could Europe and Italy do to help you as well, Mr. Gulen?

Fethullah Gulen: I have long supported Turkey’s bid for EU membership, which has been a state policy for decades. I believe Turkey’s membership in the EU is the best way to ensure Turkey remains democratic and that fundamental rights and freedoms are protected. What’s more, EU membership would help oppressed groups in Turkey by ensuring Erdogan stays true to the treaties Turkey has signed and the promises he made. European countries are Turkey’s largest trade partners. The Turkish financial system is integrated with Europe and the rest of the world. Europe does have leverage to influence Turkey in a positive way.

2) EXTRADITION. Are you worried that the US could extradite you? Are you concerned that the outcome of the US elections could have an influence on that? Would you consider asking for asylum anywhere else?

Fethullah Gulen: So far, the US government has not confirmed that the Turkish government filed an official request for extradition. It is very clear that this demand is politically motivated, and I am confident the facts will bear that out. I have repeatedly denounced the coup attempt and emphatically reject any involvement therein. US government officials have clearly stated that they will follow legal procedures in accordance with the rule of law and due process, and I am not worried and will cooperate with the US authorities. The United States has long upheld the tradition of the rule of law and the outcome of the presidential elections don’t affect that.

3) ERDOGAN. You and Mr. Erdogan were allies at some point. What made you trust him? And do you have any regrets?

Fethullah Gulen: Leading up to the elections of 2002, Mr. Erdogan’s party promised to move Turkey forward in its bid for EU membership, to enhance human rights and freedoms, and stop government profiling of citizens based on their worldviews and affiliations. No other party was promoting democratic reforms and EU membership as much as Erdogan’s party. During his first term, Erdogan did implement democratic reforms and was praised for it by European leaders. But it appears that after staying in power for too long, President Erdogan and his party are suffering from power poisoning. I don’t regret supporting democratic reform initiatives. If another party were to have promoted such reforms, I would have supported them. In retrospect I can see now that I gave them too much credit. I regret having had faith that they were sincere in what they promised to deliver.

4) HIZMET. You have millions of followers. Is it possible that some of your followers, without your knowledge or approval, orchestrated a coup? What do you see in the future of Hizmet, and how important is its presence in America to its future development and survival?

Fethullah Gulen: My stance, my writings, speeches, ideas are public and clear. Throughout my life, I have been a victim of military coups, suffered under military regimes, and criticized the military’s intervention in domestic politics. If individuals who read my works, listened to my talks or sympathized with my worldview were involved in the coup, then that would be a betrayal of my core values.

Mr. Erdogan’s witch-hunt in Turkey accelerated with the globalization of the Hizmet movement. When he closed the doors to activities such as language and culture festivals, other countries welcomed them. When Mr. Erdogan urged Turkish ambassadors to lobby their respective foreign governments to help close down schools started by Hizmet participants, those governments refused to go along. Hizmet was born in Turkey but it is now embraced all over the world because its values are the shared values of humanity. The United States is one of the countries that welcome Hizmet participants, but by no means is it the only one. Your native Italy has also welcomed Hizmet participants. In fact, I met with the late Pope John Pope II in 1998 and we discussed some ideas about serving world peace by making religion a vehicle of positive contribution. According to what I can gather from media, the current Pope has also made worthwhile efforts to enhance empathy and mutual respect among world citizens.

Source: Corriere Della Sere , July 29, 2016


Related News

Imam in the Middle

Gulen is nothing if not prolific. He has written more than 60 books, most of which are available in English. It’s likely that an equal number of books have been written about Gulen or the movement he inspired. The man and the movement are subjects of myriad dissertations and scholarly treatises.

Gulen movement sympathizers committed to interfaith dialogue, charity and nonviolence

George Mason University professor, Jack Goldstone, shares his view of Fethullah Gulen and Gulen Movement. Goldstone says he is particularly glad that Gulen has such a remarkable influence over his sympathizers who are committed to the promotion of interfaith dialogue, charity and nonviolence. Speaking of Gulen’s anti-violence stance, Goldstone recalls Gulen’s touching statement, as he […]

German ambassador: Berlin does not recognize Gülen movement as ‘terrorist’ group

German Ambassador to Turkey Martin Erdmann has said his country’s judiciary does not recognize the Gülen movement as a terrorist organization and that Turkey should present credible evidence of criminal activity to Germany for the extradition of Gülen-linked individuals.

Exiled Turkish Leader Gulen Slams Erdogan for Coup Attempt in Report

A coup attempt in Turkey last July that killed more than 300 people was an “outrageous, heinous scenario constructed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his accomplices,” Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gulen said this week.

Turkey’s Post-Coup Purge and Erdogan’s Private Army

A year later, Western intelligence officials and top Turkey analysts aren’t nearly so sure of Gulen’s complicity. Earlier this year, German spy chief Bruno Kahl revealed that Ankara has failed to convince the BND foreign intelligence agency that Gulen was behind the ill-planned and executed coup plot. “Turkey has tried to convince us of that at every level, but so far it has not succeeded,” Kahl told the German weekly Der Spiegel in March.

Parallel state hunt makes McCarthyism look like child’s play

For the last year not a single day has passed without hearing these infamous words: parallel state. These were present in almost every speech made by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. They have been in the headlines everyday in every single newspaper close to the government.

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

Somali denies allegations that ‘aid supplies did not reach camp’

Turkish-Australian businessmen blocked from G-20 summit

Thai minister thanks to Turkish schools for contribution to education

Attempting to discredit Gülen by linking him to Israel

A legal guidebook for ‘perception engineers’

Erdoğan using hate speech against Gülen movement, says MEP

‘Parallel’ paranoia reaches the kitchen of Parliament

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News