Prosecutor’s office launches investigation into Şahin’s claim


Date posted: January 2, 2014

 İSTANBUL
Following a complaint submitted by the Judges and Prosecutors Association (YARSAV), the Ankara Prosecutor’s Office has launched an investigation into a claim made by former Justice Minister and current Justice and Development Party (AK Party) Deputy Chairman Mehmet Ali Şahin, who said on Monday that a Supreme Court of Appeals judge had asked Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen‘s opinion about a suspect whose case the court was hearing before delivering the final verdict.

A statement released by the Supreme Court of Appeals on Tuesday said that such a claim, which could harm the objectivity of the court, is not acceptable and added that if Şahin has any evidence, it should be handed over to the judiciary to start legal action on his claim.

The lawyer of the Turkish Islamic scholar, Nurullah Albayrak, said in a written statement that no conversation has taken place between his client and the judge, and rejected the allegations that the judge had sought the scholar’s opinion before delivering the final verdict concerning a businessman who was convicted in the case.

Şahin claimed that a high-level judge at the Supreme Court of Appeals had acted contrary to legal procedure and contacted Gülen before issuing his final verdict in the case against the businessman several years ago.

“What should I do in this case?” asked the judge, according to the claims of the former justice minister. He went on to say that Gülen had allegedly told the judge to do “what justice requires.”

Şahin’s claim came at a time when the AK Party government has accused prosecutors who have launched a far-reaching investigation into corruption and alleged bribery, fraud and tender rigging that involves high-level officials and ministers of acting according to the group interests of “an illegal structure and a gang within the state.”

Albayrak rejected the allegations and denied any contact between Gülen and the judge.

Source: Today's Zaman , January 2, 2014

Tags: | | |


Related News

Targeted by Erdoğan, Turkish schools earn praise, offer success abroad

Turkish schools established by educational volunteers affiliated with a movement inspired by teachings of Turkish scholar Fethullah Gülen receive widespread praise due to the quality of education they provide internationally, but for months they have been targeted by the Turkish president.

‘Gülen movement has a specific mission’

… If the [Fethullah] Gülen movement were a small, ineffective community, the AKP would never have disturbed it. Or if the Gülen movement had acted in full cooperation with the government, such a conflict wouldn’t have occurred. But the Gülen movement has a specific mission. What is that mission? They seek to obtain the pleasure of God by leading good religious lives and engaging in educational and social services.

WSJ: Turks fleeing Erdogan fuel new influx of refugees to Greece

Around 14,000 people crossed the Evros frontier from January through September of this year according to the Greek police. Around half of them were Turkish citizens. Many are judges, military personnel, civil servants or business people who have fallen under Turkish authorities’ suspicion, had their passports canceled and chosen an illegal route out.

Plot against Gülen movement in tatters as suspects confess to false testimony

New testimony in a court case incriminating the faith-based Gülen movement indicates that police and prosecutors had pressured suspects to make false statements against the movement, revealing that the case was actually a plot developed by political authorities to taint the movement.

Opposition CHP to take Gül-approved dershane law to Constitutional Court

The main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) is preparing to take a controversial law closing Turkey’s dershanes, or private preparatory schools, to the Constitutional Court, the party said a day after President Abdullah Gül signed the bill into law on Wednesday.

‘Hizmet conspiracy’ theories rejected at iftar hosted by Alevis

Participants of an iftar held by the Federation of Alevi-Bektaşi Associations under the theme “Solidarity in the light of the Quran” at the Renaissance Polat Hotel in İstanbul on Wednesday evening expressed their disbelief in the existence of any conspiracy prepared by the Hizmet movement.

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

Dissidents of the Turkish government are living in fear in Canada

Texas Senate passes resolution commending Fethullah Gülen

Pakistan – Of friends and us

Divided republic of RTE

Georgia: MEP Rebecca Harms on Asylum for Cabuk

Somali denies allegations that ‘aid supplies did not reach camp’

Turkey’s Fading Democracy

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News