For first time, Fethullah Gülen curses purge of police officials in emotional speech

Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen. (Photo: Today's Zaman, Selahattin Sevi)
Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen. (Photo: Today's Zaman, Selahattin Sevi)


Date posted: December 21, 2013

Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen has cursed those responsible for a purge of police officials involved in a corruption investigation, in his first comments on the case that has struck at the heart of the ruling elite.

Gülen’s words, invoking God’s punishment, was first curse in his life and came four days after the sweeping raids that resulted in the arrest of sons of ministers, businessmen and public officials, including the chief of biggest state bank.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has called the detention of scores of people seen as close to the government a “dirty operation” aimed at undermining his rule. Dozens of police chiefs have been removed from their posts since the detentions began.

Erdoğan has refrained from naming Gülen as the hand behind the investigation and he referred to an “illegal gang within the state” and systematically purged officials, including journalists in public broadcasters.

“…Those who don’t see the thief but go after those trying to catch the thief, who don’t see the murder but try to defame others by accusing innocent people – let God bring fire to their houses, ruin their homes, break their unities,” Gülen said in a video recording uploaded to herkul.org, a website that usually publishes his speeches.

Gülen first recalled his earlier teachings and reminded that he always emphasized that individual crimes should not be made public and that Muslims should keep flaws of others “secret.” He added that the important part of the respect to humans is to embrace them wholeheartedly and that treat them as “you treat with your own child.”

He said a Muslim should behave according to the teachings of Qur’an and the Prophet Muhammad regardless of how others behave. “In this framework, being occupied with someone else’s flaws is absolutely not a right thing,” Gülen added.

Gülen said there is an “assymetrical assault” on the Hizmet movement and that there is an effort to finish it off. He urged members of the Hizmet movement to stand firm and trust in God.

Gülen said some crimes constitute a “violation of rights of the public” and that the Islamic law and modern legal system don’t allow “tolerance” in these cases.

“The issue is about the rights of the public. If the public property is being robbed, you cannot somehow soften this [crime] by either regulations or demagogy and dialectics. This is the right of the public. … If someone overlooks this, then they are acting jointly with that thiefs. There you cannot ignore that,” Gülen underlined.

He stated that blaming others for the crimes they committed in the hope of distracting the agenda is a “dialectic to the religion and the fundamental basics of the religion.” He noted that this amounts to doubling of the crime.

“If those who go after these negative things.. I don’t know who they are.. If those who go after these [corruption allegations] because it is essential for the law as well as the system, for the religion as well as democracy and if they (police officials) … have done things that are in contrary to the spirit of the religion… and they’re counting us in so that I will also refer to us.. if they have done things that are in contrary to the spirit of the religion, if things they have done are in contrary to the fundamental disciplines of Qur’an, if it is against the teachings of Prophet Muhammad, if it is against the Islamic law, against the modern law, against the accepted rules of democracy today.. then may God bury us and them into the earth, bring fire to their houses, ruin their homes. But if this is not the case, those who don’t see the thief but go after those trying to catch the thief, who don’t see the murder but try to defame others by defame innocent people – may God bring fire to their houses, ruin their homes, break their unities, keep their feelings (wishes) within their chests, block their path, prevent them from being something.”

He said he was unable to prevent himself from saying what he has just said. He added that he remained silent for a long time although “they showed their teeth … provocated so many people, all those damned thoughts spread around without a visa on Twitter,” but that he can no longer be silent. “And I said what I haven’t so far,” Gülen added.

Source: Today's Zaman , December 21, 2013


Related News

Erdoğan calls critics, civil movements ‘traitors,’ threatens investors

Graham Watson, the president of the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party and the former chairman of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe in the EP also criticized Erdoğan for using hate speech against Hizmet.

Turkish authorities withdraw license of station linked to PM Erdogan’s opponents

Fatih Karaca, head of the media unit of Ipek group of companies, said Thursday Turkey’s radio and television watchdog revoked the license of KanalTurk television, citing a 2010 court decision. He maintained that the decision against the station — which is linked to a movement led by U.S.-based moderate Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen — was “politically-motivated.”

Reflections from the US

In the past three weeks, the AK Party has proposed new laws to increase government controls over judges and prosecutors, and many investigations have slowed down, raising suspicions that the government might be trying to hide something.

Dr. Reuven Firestone Interviewed by Muslim Turkish Movement “Hizmet”

Hizmet is active in interfaith dialogue in Turkey and many other countries, and has built private and charter schools in many countries, including the US.

Gülen’s lawyer denies any link with bugging probe suspect

Fethullah Gülen’s lawyer has denied that the Turkish Islamic scholar has any links with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s former chief bodyguard, who was detained in an investigation into covert listening devices found in the prime minister’s office in 2012.

Freedom House says security package undermines democracy in Turkey

US-based watchdog Freedom House has criticized Turkey’s controversial security package, which grants extensive powers to police officersand provincial governors, saying that the passing of the bill in Parliament is a move to undermine democracy in Turkey.

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

Final declaration of the 33rd Abant Platform: “Turkey direction”

Great interest shown in Turkish school in Egypt

A Family’s Journey from Turkey and Argentina to San Antonio

Man gets prison sentence, fine after attack on Gülen-linked institutions in France

A Canadian-Saudi’s reflections on Hizmet

17,000 women, 515 babies in Turkish prisons: SCF report

Peacebuilders Conference

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News