Is There ‘The Cemaat’ Under Every Stone?

Cuneyt Ozdemir
Cuneyt Ozdemir


Date posted: February 9, 2012

Cuneyt Ozdemir

Nazli Ilıcak, the author of “Is There The Cemaat Under Every Stone?”,  queries our new bogeyman, the Cemaat (also known as the Hizmet or Gulen Movement), and determines the reasons lying underneath this fear with concrete evidence.

Ilıcak kindly sent me an autographed copy of her book, which was so intriguing that I read it all in one shot. The core of the book focuses itself on the counter-arguments, which come to the defense of the followers of Gulen Movement, criticized of harboring hidden agendas. The writing style is concise, forward and factual—every line of the text is supported by documentation. The book starts off with quotations from the Gulen Movement’s skeptical opponents, then disproves each assertion with official documents, interviews and other concrete verification.

Divided into two chapters, Ilıcak’s book covers the claims of the Ergenekon lawsuit, Hanefi Avci’s book, the documents discovered at ODA TV and the answers given to Nedim Sener. The most interesting part in the first chapter, in my opinion, is the way in which she disproves the allegations against Ali Fuat Yilmazer, the intelligence officer who played a key role in the Ergenekon case. The second chapter of the book includes the prosecution of Fethullah Gulen and the subsequent interviews with him.

Ilıcak reaches her conclusions based on fact, using interviews, official documents, interviews and other hard evidence to make her point. Her book is a valuable source of information, especially for those who have only read texts from Fethullah Gulen’s opponents. In understanding an issue, it’s imperative to hear both sides of the story. This book does just that, while answering the call of those who search for the Cemaat under every stone.

* “under every stone” is a Turkish expression meaning “behind every crime or misdeed”

Note: Mr. Cuneyt Ozdemir’s column is longer and discussing other issues as well. We translated only the paragraphs related to the Hizmet Movement.

Disclaimer: The original article is in Turkish. Slight deviations from the original meaning may have occurred due to difficulties in translating phrases and idioms. PII volunteers translated the article.

Source: Radikal Newspaper , January 22, 2012

Tags: | | | |


Related News

Once Shut Down By Taleban, Now Afghan-Turk Schools to be handed over to Erdoğan Regime

Since the ill-intentioned Maarif Foundation was found by Erdoğan regime in wake of failed coup attempt on July 15, 2016, just for aiming at taking over the successful schools operated by Turkish civic society, Gülen movement, the step has not been welcomed by the affected schools in Afghanistan.

Gülen’s views, concern for Kurdish problem nothing new, report shows

“No matter who does it, it is just brutality, murder and tyranny to try to achieve a goal by killing people [and] shedding blood. No beneficial goal can be achieved for humanity through the use of these tactics,” Mr. Gulen states.

US intel director: Turkish purge impeding fight against ‘Islamic State’

Turkey’s purge has removed military officers who’d been key figures in the US-led fight against the so-called “Islamic State,” says US intelligence head James Clapper. He called it a setback in US-Turkish cooperation.

Erdoğan’s war against Hizmet: Step by step

Turkish prosecutors carried out a number of arrests and raids on the morning of 17th December 2013 as part of a series of on-going corruption investigations. PM Erdogan’s response has been to call this a coup attempt against his government orchestrated by a coalition of foreign and domestic enemies. Erdogan claims that the ‘domestic pawn’ of this plot is the Hizmet movement. His number one election campaign promise: to crush and annihilate the treacherous Hizmet movement.

Kurds, Turkey and growing with Öcalan’s help?

As far as the Kurds living in other countries are concerned, as Fethullah Gülen underscored in his Rudaw newspaper interview, Turkey should not only be interested in the well-being of Turks’ ethnic brothers in other countries but also Kurds’ and other ethnically non-Turkish citizens’ brothers and relatives all over the world. Thus, instead of seeing an autonomous Kurdish region in northern Syria as a threat, we must be happy that our Kurdish relatives on the other side of the border will hopefully have better living standards and human rights.

‘Hizmet is a social movement worldwide, that has a heart, and it’s always from the heart.’

Hizmet works around the world to overcome poverty, and they do it in a very unique way, I think. In some ways, in a model way that could be emulated by others.

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

Impartiality of the state, tragic events of 1915

Yes, Religion Can Still Be A Force For Good In The World

US-based Turkish cleric denies involvement in coup plot

Man dies of heart attack while on way to help Turkish refugees in Greece

Dr. Esposito: The Gulen Movement Introduces Turkey To The World

Embrace Relief headed down to Haiti to help orphanages

Reflection on the Asia-Pacific Trip with the Hizmet Movement

Copyright 2026 Hizmet News