Row between Turkish government and Gülen movement heats up with new document

Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç (R) is seen speaking at a press conference in Bursa, Nov 28. AA photo
Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç (R) is seen speaking at a press conference in Bursa, Nov 28. AA photo


Date posted: November 28, 2013

The row between followers of the Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen’s movement of and the Turkish government took another dimension after a daily revealed Nov. 28 that a decision from the National Security Council (MGK) recommending an action plan against the Gülen movement be signed by the government in 2004.

Government officials, however, wasted no time in making statements about the MGK decision and said it has never been enforced.

The decision made during the August 2004 National Security Council meeting includes a two-page section titled, “Measures that should be taken against Fetullah Gülen’s operations,” the daily Taraf reported Nov. 28.

“Legal regulations that introduce harsh sanctions should be adopted and an action plan [against the Gülen Movement] should be prepared,” says the decision, signed by the former President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, former Chief of General Staff Hilmi Özkök and current President Abdullah Gül, who was then foreign minister.

Tension between the government and the Gülen Movement, known in Turkish as “Cemaat” (community) or “Hizmet” (service), escalated recently after Erdoğan announced plans to abolish private examination prep schools (dershane), many of which are financed and run by Gülen’s followers. Erdoğan describes the group’s loud objections to his government’s plans as “a smear campaign.”

Although the Fethullah Gülen Movement is thought to have had close relations with the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) until recently, the daily Taraf claimed the MGK document proved that a decision to “finish” the movement had already been made in 2004.

However, Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç told reporters in the northwestern province of Bursa Nov. 28 he was not present in the meeting at the time, but added, “even if such a decision was made, it was only advisory.” He also stressed the government definitely did not follow through with the recommendations.

“In 11 years, none of the issues assumed to have been agreed in the MGK document happened and we didn’t do anything to hurt these people either,” Arınç said.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s chief political adviser, Yalçın Akdoğan, took to Twitter to also deny that the government had taken any steps following the MGK decision.

“The 2004 MGK decision was declared void by the government and no Cabinet meeting decision or action was taken,” he tweeted Nov. 28.

AKP Gaziantep deputy Şamil Tayyar also refuted claims that the government was plotting against the Gülen Movement, accusing some people of “causing trouble.”

“It is correct; the decision to finish Cemaat was made in 2004. Then the police department was appointed to the Cemaat, the number of dershanes and schools increased, and the shutdown case was issued against the AKP,” he tweeted sarcastically.

“When the supporters of the sedition are seen, it is understood the problem is not limited to those who attempt sedition,” Tayyar also said, in a way to criticize the attempt to create a rift between the government and Gülen community as well as the Gülen community for supporting such attempts.
Prime Ministry assigned as coordinator

The MGK’s advisory decision to pressure the government to form an action plan to fight against the Gülen Movement also allocated duties for a number of public institutions.

The Prime Ministry Monitoring and Coordination Board (BUTKK) was appointed as the coordinator, while the Internal Affairs Ministry, the Foreign Ministry and the National Intelligence Organization (MİT) were asked to closely follow the movement’s operations inside and outside the country.

In addition, the Finance Ministry’s Financial Crime Investigation Board (MASAK) was also tasked with monitoring businesspeople granting money to Cemaat-related institutions and irregular money transactions, according to the decision.

The MGK decision also underlines the strong Cemaat presence in the student housing sector and calls on the Internal Affairs Ministry to closely watch “the group’s efforts to gain sympathizers and supporters.”

Some had claimed the prime minister’s recent criticisms of mixed-sex student houses were in fact targeting the Gülen Movement, which is known to provide dormitory-style private accommodation for young people.

Source: Hurriyet Daily News , November 28, 2013


Related News

Gülen’s letter to Gül

Koru told Gülen to express his feelings in a letter. The scholar wrote this letter on Dec. 22. Koru took the letter to its addressee, the president. He met with the prime minister the same day in Ankara and told him about his impressions from his contact with Gülen. I mean to say, there is not “bargaining” or “mediation.” There is only a “goodwill initiative” here.

Monday Talk with Alp Aslandogan on Gulen Movement and Recent Coup Attempt in Turkey

Vocal Europe: What sort of link does Alliance for Shared Values have with the movement in general and with Mr Gulen in particular? Alp Aslandogan:  Alliance for Shared Values (AFSV) has six regional partner organizations and AFSV serves as a loose umbrella for these organizations. They focus on interfaith and intercultural dialogue, helping new immigrants […]

Turkish schools are being closed down

Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu stated he had ordered the closure of Turkish schools in 160 countries, arguing that the officials of those schools had sent letters to the leaders of foreign countries in which they complained about the Turkish government. The closure of these schools is a serious step, but the reason for the closure is not based on real evidence.

IFLC’s ‘colors of the world’ takes stage in Brazil

Children from across the world who participated in the 14th International Festival of Language and Culture (IFLC) took the stage in Brazil’s Sao Paulo, a first in a Latin American country, the Cihan news agency reported on Tuesday.

Behind the secret documents – Turkish government profiled a large number of individuals

A story which was published by Taraf daily on Monday has shaken the country. According to the story, the Turkish government profiled a large number of individuals whom it believed to be followers of certain religious and faith-based groups and monitored their activities up until 2013.

Who was behind the Turkish Coup: Sufi Islamic Scholar Fathullah Gülen or the Regime itself?

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has bluntly blamed it on the Hizmet movement, Gülen’s initiative for intercultural and interfaith dialogue and education in the country expanding across the world today. But for many immensely impressed by Gülen’s global humanitarian, social and Islam-based peace activism, it remains an obscure question as to how the former ally of his country is now blamed for the coup.

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

Who benefits the most from the AKP-Gülen movement rift?

Turkish organizations pour out aid during Feast of Sacrifice

Turkey donation by Turkish Cultural Center Albany

Is PM looking for someone he can pass the blame to?

Why is Fethullah Gülen so influential?

Kemalo-Islamists versus civil society and Hizmet

Turkish School Leader Abducted, and Released, in Mongolia

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News