Lawyer: Claims about Gülen followers among ‘jihadist group’ baseless defamation


Date posted: September 13, 2013

The lawyer of Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen has strongly dismissed claims by a French publication that followers of Gülen are among members of an alleged jihadist formation encouraged by Turkey to fight a political offshoot of the terrorist Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in Syria as baseless slanders.
“The claim in question is first of all a blatant and baseless slander that is based on no evidence. Mentioning the name of my client, who based his entire life on tolerance, dialogue, peace, love for people and one’s country, is, to say the least, ruthless and shows a lack of intelligence,” said lawyer Nurullah Albayrak in a statement on Thursday.

France’s Intelligence Online claimed in a story in its latest issue published on Wednesday that Turkey encouraged the formation of a jihadist brigade called “Katibat al-Taliban” (KaT), which is reportedly made up almost exclusively of Kurds, to fight with the Democratic Union Party (PYD). The story also claimed that some fighters of the alleged group were “members of the PKK who converted to Islam in Turkish prisons,” while others come from schools established by followers of Gülen.

“The claims that students receiving education at schools founded by members of the Gülen movement are among the members of a group that was set up to get ready for war is a baseless and unfair slander which obviously aims to defame my client and members of the volunteers’ movement,” Albayrak said.

The statement said anybody who has a conscience and believes in the rule of law would not accept associating educational institutions that were opened by followers of Gülen — who defended peace and brotherhood and tolerance and promoted peace in addressing social problems throughout his life — with “war.”

The lawyer also vowed to take legal action against the publication, calling the publication’s associating the names of such educational institutions inspired by Gülen with activities other than education “unlawful.”

“We leave the aim of defaming my client, who has no other thought than serving humanity, to the discretion of the public,” he added.

Gülen is a Turkish Islamic scholar well known for his teachings promoting mutual understanding and tolerance between cultures. He has pioneered educational activities in a number of countries, along with efforts to promote intercultural and interfaith activities around the world.

He has also written nearly 50 books in Turkish, some of which have been translated into several languages.

Source: Today's Zaman , September 13, 2013


Related News

Turkey’s coup attempt & a more intimate view of the Hizmet Movement

Working towards this vision of the world, the Gulen Movement focus primarily in three areas: creating high achieving educational institutions from elementary schools to universities; establishing interfaith dialogue organizations where leaders from different religions as well as public official come together to find and share common grounds at a local and international level; and providing emergency relief in disaster areas around the world.

Deputy PM of Turkey visits Gulen-inspired school in Yemen

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc visited the International Yemen Turkish Schools as well as the Yemen office of TIKA, Turkey’s international cooperation and development agency, in capital Sana’a. During his visit to the Turkish schools complex, Arinc received information from the schools’ director, Mehmet Yilmaz.

Hate Speech is Undermining Turkey’s Fragile Democracy

Many TV viewers could not believe their ears upon hearing the terms “blood sucking vampires, leeches, traitors, spies, worse than Shiites, and assassins” uttered by then Turkish prime minister Erdogan in his political rallies.

GYV says arrest warrant for Gülen motivated by upcoming election

The Journalists and Writers Foundation’s (GYV), of which Fethullah Gülen is the honorary president, issued a statement on Wednesday slamming the government-orchestrated arrest warrant for Gülen as a government election tactic.

Who speaks for Islam in Turkey?

Huseyin Gulerce voiced deep concern about Erdogan’s criticism of Fethullah Gulen “as a fake prophet” at a meeting of the Religious Affairs Directorate. Gulerce asked, “Would not the stability of the country be harmed if the mosques are polarized as such?” He concluded that politics have dominated religion.

South African, Kenyan leaders show support for Turkish schools

South African President Jacob Zuma and Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta have both expressed support for Turkish schools in their country, amid the Turkish government’s attempts to shut down Turkish schools located abroad that are affiliated with the Hizmet movement.

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

Erdoğan’s hate speech moves to US

A Different Kind of Coup? Why You Should Care About A “Reclusive” Turkish Imam in Pennsylvania

Turkey Bars Entry Of Critics By Adding Their Names Next To ISIL Suspects

Government [in Turkey] replaces military in defamation tactics

Nigeria wants more Turkish schools to increase quality of education

Greece Warned Turkey Hours before the 2016 Coup Attempt

Turkish schools abroad victims of AKP-Gulen conflict

Copyright 2024 Hizmet News