Erdoğan’s aide: Unjust to suggest Hizmet eavesdropped on PM

Dr. Yalcin-Akdogan
Dr. Yalcin-Akdogan


Date posted: January 2, 2013

A political aide to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Monday that it would be “unjust” and “wrong” to associate the Hizmet movement with wiretapping devices found in Erdoğan’s office.

Speaking to TV station NTV, Yalçın Akdoğan, an adviser to the prime minister and a deputy of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party), said: “Some people placed those devices there…. This is a grave situation.”

Akdoğan said that when people from his party accused the deep state of being behind the wiretapping scandal, their remarks were misinterpreted by some as if they had pointed a finger at the Hizmet movement (aka Gulen movement), inspired by Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen.

He clarified that what they had meant to indicate were deep-state gangs like Ergenekon, a shadowy criminal network with alleged links within the state that is suspected of plotting to topple the government, and not the Hizmet movement.

“It would be completely unjust and wrong to associate this situation with the movement,” he said.

The prime minister announced on a live TV program in late December that bugging devices had been found in his office at his Ankara home but did not specify the number of devices or when they were found. “Security units [the police] found those devices. They were placed inside the office of my house. Such things occur despite all measures taken to prevent them,” he stated. An investigation is under way into how the devices were planted there and by whom.

Akdoğan also spoke to the Star daily on Monday and said he would not choose a member of Ergenekon over any Islamic community. Akdoğan made this statement in response to criticism that the government has begun to downplay Ergenekon.

Source: Today’s Zaman 1 January 2013


Related News

Fethullah Gulen: I consider the coup attempt as a serious “terror coup”

The events of that night [the coup attempt] could be called as a serious terror coup. I categorically reject such accusations. The claim that I convinced the 8th biggest army in the world from 6000 miles away against its own government is an incredible slander. I would like those who are responsible for this coup attempt, regardless of their identities, to receive the punishment they deserve after a fair trial.

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.

Fethullah Gülen versus Ayatollah Khomeini?

Gülen will not return to a society that is expecting him as the Savior or the true representation of Turkishness or the antidote to current political failures. Although it is true that Gülen’s imminent return would cause tensions, it would only be tensions created by political interest groups which would use his presence for their […]

Three political risks that Turkey might be exposed to

Economic indicators in Turkey cannot bear the political risk anymore. The currency rates go up whenever President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan makes a statement. Before the elections I had warned that Erdoğan’s election victory would bring instability, but nobody believed this. There are now three major fields of conflict and uncertainty before Turkey.

TUSKON: Twitter ban a disappointment in information age

Turkish Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists (TUSKON) Chairman Rıza Nur Meral voiced his disappointment on Friday over the decision by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), which tries to attract voters with promises of democracy, more human rights, increased rule of law and reforms to gain EU membership, to block access to Twitter.

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

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

[Caliphate in sight] What to expect in 2014 Turkey

Former Norwegian PM: Our center takes same approach as Gülen

Turkish school in Afghanistan opened

Local priests participate in landmark interfaith trip to Turkey

Reaction mounts against PM’s witch-hunt remarks

Romania hosts 12th International Language and Culture Festival finals

Is the Gulen Movement an alternative to the state?

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News