Gulen has ‘no intention of leaving the US’

Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gulen
Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gulen


Date posted: March 1, 2017

Washington (dpa) – Exiled Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen has no plans to leave the United States for Canada, according to an organization close to him, following speculation about a possible move.

The Alliance for Shared Values “rejects the accusation” by Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus that Gulen is planning a move to Canada, it said in a statement on its website.

“Mr Gulen has not purchased any property in Canada or elsewhere and has no intention of leaving the United States,” the statement said.

“This is nothing more than a false rumour being circulated again to divert attention from the Erdogan government‘s domestic repressions and autocratic drive, and to exert pressure on the US government to arrest Mr Gulen,” the statement said.

Gulen has lived in self-imposed exile in the eastern US state of Pennsylvania since 1999.

Turkey has blamed Gulen and his Hizmet movement of being behind a failed coup d‘etat in July and is seeking his extradition. Gulen contends that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan initiated the coup himself in order to create an excuse to silence critics.

The alliance said Turkish Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag had speculated about Gulen moving to Canada as early as July 28.

The Alliance also reiterated its call for an end to attempts to stymie voices of democratic dissent, including journalists, academics, Kurds, liberals and participants in the Hizmet movement.

Source: Europe Online Magazine , March 2, 2017


Related News

Gülen says never considered establishing political party

Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen has reiterated that he has never thought of establishing a political party, saying that the Hizmet movement has never had organic relations with a political group.

Fethullah Gülen’s prospects for inter-religious dialogue

Fethullah Gülen has emerged as one of the most persuasive and influential voices in the Muslim community calling for dialogue as a step toward peace. Indeed, he offers “a way to live out Islamic values amidst the complex demands of modern societies and to engage in ongoing dialogue and cooperation with people of other religions.”

A strong message for Erdogan

Gulen, who has been living in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania since 1999, promotes a philosophy that comprises elements of moderate Islam and Sufi mysticism, free-market economics, and interfaith tolerance. That he has a wide following in Turkey (and elsewhere) is not in doubt. As for Erdogan, he can be an Islamist sultan or he can be the democratic leader of a trusted NATO ally. But he can’t be both, and the time has come to make him choose.

Philip Clayton on Fethullah Gulen and Hizmet Movement

Dr. Philip Clayton is the Ingraham Professor of Theology at Claremont School of Theology. He received dual PhDs from Yale in philosophy and theology and held posts at Williams College and the California State University, as well as guest professorships at the University of Munich, the University of Cambridge, and Harvard University. He is a leading advocate for interreligious dialogue, comparative theologies, and the internationalization of the science-religion dialogue. He authored or edited 22 books.

Pregnant with twins, Kocaeli woman detained during control at hospital

Nuriye Yalcin, a Kocaeli woman who is expected to deliver twin babies in 4.5 months was detained during a regular medical control at Izmit Medical Park Hospital on Tuesday.

Once shut down by Taliban, now Afghan gov’t plans to hand over successful Turkish Schools to Turkish Gov’t

Afghanistan president Ashraf Ghani has agreed to hand over the Afghan-Turk schools, previously run by a pro-Gulen institution, to the Turkish Education Foundation which is a governmental institution. This step has, however, not been welcomed by the affected schools. Officials of the schools have warned that the move would lead to closing the schools and damage the quality of education.

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

A Rare Interview: Jamie Tarabay Meets Turkish Scholar Fethullah Gulen

Report claims government categorized schools linked to Hizmet

Arınç calls Gülen’s extradition request a ‘political move’

A “Controlled Coup”: Erdogan’s Contribution to the Autocrats’ Playbook

Daily Trust Editorial: In Turkey, fresh affront on democracy

Pak-Turk schools: Parents urge government against transferring administration to Erdogan-linked organization

An American’s journey into a Hizmet school in Turkey

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News