US prosecutor denies any links to Gülen, says never set foot in Turkey


Date posted: October 1, 2016

Responding to allegations from Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who accused US Attorney for the Southern District of New York Preet Bharara of being a sympathizer of the faith-based Gülen movement, Bharara said he has just learned Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen’s name from Google and has never been to Turkey.

Bharara has been under attack from the government and pro-government circles in Turkey due to his indictment of Reza Zarrab, a dual Turkish-Iranian citizen who was arrested in Miami in March. He was charged with helping Iran process millions of dollars in transactions that violated US sanctions against Tehran in effect at the time.

While returning from a visit to the US last week, Erdoğan claimed that Bharara and US Judge Richard Berman, who is hearing the Zarrab trial, were entertained by members of the Gülen movement in Turkey. Erdoğan claims Zarrab is innocent.

Bharara responded to Erdoğan’s assertion in a speech delivered at the anniversary of the foundation of City & State New York magazine in New York on Tuesday.

The prosecutor said until the day he was claimed to be a Gülen sympathizer, he had never even heard Gülen’s name, who inspired the movement, and searched for it on Google.

Bharara also said although Turkish President Erdoğan accused him of mingling with Gülen sympathizers in Turkey, he has never been to Turkey.

In court papers Bharara’s office included references to a 2013 corruption investigation in Turkey that targeted Zarrab, Cabinet ministers and members of Erdoğan’s family. The probe was subsequently dropped.

The Turkish government and Erdoğan accuse the Gülen movement of masterminding 2013’s corruption investigation and a failed coup attempt in July although the movement strongly denies any involvement in either.

Source: Turkish Minute , September 30, 2016

Tags: | | | |


Related News

Turkey’s political weather forecast

A statement from the Higher Board of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK) said a decree from Prime Minister Tayyip Erdoğan’s Justice and Development Party (AKParti) government was against the Turkish Constitution. The Board was mentioning the government’s Dec. 21 decree, asking prosecutors to inform local administrative authorities about their investigations, which was supposed to be confidential

Terrorist organization, you say

He is 73 years old and is known as a respected scholar who has been studying Islamic exegesis. He is well-known in academia. He was promoted to associate professor in the field of Islamic exegesis back in 1977. He served as head of the exegesis department at the faculty of theology at Erzurum’s Atatürk University, conducted research in Paris Sorbonne, taught at the faculty of Islamic studies at the Islamic University of Madinah, was the chair of exegesis studies at Marmara University and conducted academic studies at International Islamic University of Malaysia. He is the author of 13 books and hundreds of articles.

Enes Kanter Foundation and Embrace Relief launches campaign for Hurricane Harvey victims and families

In collaboration with Enes Kanter Foundation, Embrace Relief has launched a relief campaign to help victims and families affected by Hurricane Harvey in Texas.

Turkey Coup Attempt: Who is Fethullah Gülen, The Cleric Being Accused Of Orchestrating The Turmoil?

In an address to his supporters at Istanbul’s Ataturk airport early on Saturday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused Fethullah Gülen — a cleric living in a self-imposed exile in the United States — of orchestrating the coup attempt against his government. Here’s what you need to know about Gülen, who has denied being involved in the […]

GYV’s Istanbul Summit and Peace Projects presented in New York

A reception was held by the Journalists and Writers Foundation (GYV) on September 30, 2013 in New York to promote its two international projects, Istanbul Summit and Peace Projects. Numerous representatives to the United Nations (UN) who came to New York to attend the 68th UN General Assembly meeting as well as journalists, academics and foreign diplomats were hosted at the GYV office on the 5th Avenue.

Deepening crisis

As the Turkish government clamps down on protesters and attempts to hinder the corruption probe, Turkey is plunging deeper into a crisis that threatens to have a lasting impact on its society and economy.
The corruption case is the main story. With every move made to protect those in its immediate circle, the government is stepping away from the rule of law and undermining its reputation further.

Latest News

Turkish inmate jailed over alleged Gülen links dies of heart attack in prison

Message of Condemnation and Condolences for Mass Shooting at Bondi Beach, Sydney

Media executive Hidayet Karaca marks 11th year in prison over alleged links to Gülen movement

ECtHR faults Turkey for convictions of 2,420 applicants over Gülen links in follow-up to 2023 judgment

New Book Exposes Erdoğan’s “Civil Death Project” Targeting the Hizmet Movement

European Human Rights Treaty Faces Legal And Political Tests

ECtHR rejects Turkey’s appeal, clearing path for retrials in Gülen-linked cases

Erdoğan’s Civil Death Project’ : The ‘politicide’ spanning more than a decade

Fethullah Gülen’s Vision and the Purpose of Hizmet

In Case You Missed It

The Islamic roots of the conflict in Turkey

Compensation case filed against Erdoğan for targeting Gülen-inspired schools

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

Pregnant with twins, Kocaeli woman detained during control at hospital

Awards from Romanian Prime Minister to Turkish School Students

Turkish Gov’t media targets exiled journalists, their lives at risk

Cleric Accused Of Plotting Turkish Coup Attempt: ‘I Have Stood Against All Coups’

Copyright 2026 Hizmet News