Gülen-linked journalists organization voices concern over profiling claims

(Photo: Today's Zaman)
(Photo: Today's Zaman)


Date posted: December 6, 2013

The Journalists and Writers Foundation (GYV), one of the most prominent institutions affiliated with Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, released a statement expressing its concerns over the government’s claimed profiling of citizens, civic groups and public employees.

“It is worrisome to witness developments that echo the said MGK [National Security Board] decision, such as the plan to ban prep schools, the profiling of public employees or the purging of bureaucrats who are affiliated with certain communities,” the statement published on the institution’s website said.

Daily Taraf published a document on Nov. 28 revealing the government had signed an MGK decision that included an action plan against the Gülen movement. In a separate report on Dec. 2, it claimed the Turkish government had profiled a number of groups based on religion and faith through the National Intelligence Organization (MİT) and monitored their activities until 2013.

“The fact that Cabinet members undersigned in 2004 a MGK decision that called for the tracking and profiling of many civil society organizations (CSOs), including the organizations and volunteers acting in line with the principles of the Hizmet movement, both at home and abroad, as well as for the drafting of action plans targeting these organizations cannot be ignored,” the statement read.

The tension between the government and the Gülen movement that flared with government’s announcement of plans to close prep-schools, which are mostly owned by Gülen supporters, escalated following Taraf’s reports.

Speaking at a meeting on Dec. 5, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan recalled the “Feb. 28 process,” implicitly sending a message to Gülen movement supporters.

“Feb. 28 made this country lose so much. I hope we will understand this as well. Some circles have changed their attitude when they found a better environment. We need unity,” he said.

The “Feb. 28 process,” also known as the “post-modern coup,” refers to an army-led secularist campaign which forced the late Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan to step down in June 1997.

Many conservative groups, companies, people affiliated with the Erbakan government and his political views were hit with harsh sanctions at that time, under the military’s pressure.

Source: Hurriyet Daily News , December 6, 2013


Related News

Bulgaria, the state sentenced to compensate Turkish journalist

The European Court of Human Rights condemned Bulgaria for the 2016 extradition of a Turkish journalist, hastily handed over to the Turkish authorities who accused him of being part of the Fehtullah Gülen movement, in violation of national and international rules.

You Cannot Understand the Servants!

What will you say about the reaction of Mr. Akin Ipek after his enterprise has been shut down as an intimidation? If you forget, let me remind you what he said: “I would sacrifice my whole fortune for a smile of Hocaefendi (Fethullah Gulen).” Can you understand this soul?

Intellectual deviations

Mahçupyan’s analysis of the Hizmet movement’s perspective on the Kurdish issue is wrong. When the settlement process was launched, the Hizmet movement announced its full support for the solution, with Gülen saying, “Peace is in itself goodness, and peace brings happiness.” It advocated non-violent social actors competing with each other freely and under democratic conditions. It openly declared that the right to education in one’s mother tongue is one of the fundamental human rights.

More Divisions, More Democracy

Foreign journalists writing about Turkey like to focus on the most fundamental divide in Turkish society: the rift between religious conservatives and secularists. But these days an internal clash is raging among the conservatives themselves. And it could be a boon for Turkish democracy.

Pro-gov’t news portal proposes ways to execute Gülen followers

Following President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s promise “to cut off traitors’ heads,” the pro-government media called for an Ottoman-like solution for the execution of people linked to the Gülen movement. The social media message came a day after Erdoğan targeted people linked to the Gülen movement while speaking to a crowd of thousands on the anniversary of the failed coup attempt.

Afghan Students, families baulk at Turkey taking over schools

A number of parents of students at Afghan-Turk Schools on Saturday said at a meeting in Kabul they support the continuation of the schools in the country and do not want control to be handed over to the Turkish government.

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

[Erdogan’s] Turken Foundation: A Wolf in the Neighborhood [in the US]

Ugandan opinion leader refutes news report which defames Hizmet Movement

You are free to touch Hizmet movement

Is it struggle between AK Party and Hizmet?

Turkey’s Koç: I met with Gülen; there is nothing wrong with that

TUSKON foreign trade summit opens Central Asia’s doors

Hizmet movement to address Armenian issue

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News