Erdoğan media’s accusations against Gülen and Hizmet

Dr. Ihsan Yilmaz
Dr. Ihsan Yilmaz


Date posted: January 3, 2014

İHSAN YILMAZ

This piece is based on an academic paper that I published in 2007.

The accusations leveled against Fethullah Gülen and the Hizmet movement reminded me of this paper of mine. In a section of the paper, I compare accusations against Gülen and Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi, a towering spiritual figure of the 13th century. The accusations are almost the same. While I discuss the neonationalist, ultraconservative, radical Islamist, Kemalist and ultraleftist accusations against Gülen in my paper, today, almost all of the same lies are now repeated almost verbatim by the TV channels and newspapers under the control of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Gülen’s antagonists repeat accusations that the papacy has bought a community or movement in Turkey in a bid to produce an adulterated and altered Islam. They reacted negatively to Gülen’s visit to Vatican City to meet with the pope, which they consider a humiliation. They allege that “some groups” are the secret agents of the papacy in Turkey. They also repeatedly claim that some secret agreements between “a group,” the Papacy and the Orthodox Church have been reached to reopen the Halki Seminary, and, when the conditions are right, that Greeks (Rum) will immigrate to Turkey. They also strongly argue that the Muslims who advocate dialogue with Christians and Europeans are either naïve, ignorant or, far worse, traitors. They even imply that Gülen is not a Muslim at all but a secret cardinal of the Catholic Church. Some others claim that Gülen is a man of the Korea-based cult of Sun Myung Moon. An ultra-nationalist has argued that “CIA agents such as Graham Fuller and Paul Henze are disciples [murid] of Gülen.”

Similar to that of contemporary times, the social and political conjuncture was very turbulent when Rumi emerged on the scene. It was a period in which many conflicts and disorders were happening one after the other. The Seljuk state was significantly weakened and deteriorating, frozen by the inability to cope with internal conflicts, divisions and mismanagement. During this period Rumi emerged as a powerful activist and scholar. He not only talked about but also worked to create an atmosphere of dialogue and tolerance through his lyrics, poetry and, of course, followers. Through tolerance and compassion, he conveyed his message, which clarifies the relation of human beings to their Creator, and one’s relation to others and fellow beings. Dialogue, humanity, love, compassion and tolerance as well as respect for, openness to and acceptance of others in their otherness are the fundamentals of Rumi’s thought and practice. He also drew his listeners’ attention to the mother of all evils — ignorance — and underlined that education and dialogue are the only remedies. When he passed away in 1273, Muslims, Christians, Jews, Arabs, Persians, Turks and Romans honored him at his funeral, and men of five faiths followed his bier. The flood of people at the funeral was a sign that Rumi was well understood even in his lifetime, and that he was a sound foundation for different communities.

Rumi also practiced activism in his spiritual guidance to rulers, including the invading Mongols. He was part of the urban elite in the cosmopolitan capital city of Konya. Rumi gained much love and respect from sultans, viziers and kings. These men of high position were very eager to see him. However, Rumi seldom accepted their invitations. Rumi tried to narrow the gap between ulama Islam (scholarly Islam) and folk Islam. He was also involved in the political struggles of his time in one way or another. He was in contact with the rulers. Rumi was not a politician but a spiritual guide who was perfectly aware of the realities of the mundane world, an essential quality for an influential spiritual guide.

Even though he did not deal with everyday politics, he faced and is still facing political accusations, including the claim that he sought political power. Rumi’s respect for all religious traditions was not always popular in his day, and often provoked criticism from the more dogmatic. Rumi was accused of being too soft on the Mongols. While some criticized his openness to the other, others claimed that he was a traitor, a spy and not even a Muslim.

Source: Today's Zaman , January 3, 2014


Related News

GYV praised for response to accusations about Hizmet movement

GYV Chairman Mustafa Yeşil said the foundation has received very positive reactions to its 11-article statement, adding that many people found the statement an “honorable” and “courteous” one. AK Party Adıyaman deputy Mehmet Metiner said by releasing Tuesday’s statement, the GYV has taken a very valuable step that “spoils the games of some evil circles that want to create hostility between the government and the Hizmet movement.”

‘Hizmet is really something that demonstrates what’s universal about Islam.’

People who identify with the Hizmet Movement really have influenced the way I view it, in that I can see that it’s gonna have a lasting impact, because Hizmet is really something that demonstrates what’s universal about Islam, for the members of the Hizmet Movement, that there are universal values that you find in other faith traditions as well.

Gülen: The Ambiguous Politics of Market Islam in Turkey and the World

The Hizmet Movement is Turkey’s most influential Islamic identity community. Widely praised throughout the early 2000s as a mild and moderate variation on Islamic political identity, the Gülen Movement has long been a topic of both adulation and conspiracy in Turkey, and has become more controversial as it spreads across the world. In Gülen, Joshua D. Hendrick suggests that when analyzed in accordance with its political and economic impact, the Gülen Movement, despite both praise and criticism, should be given credit for playing a significant role in Turkey’s rise to global prominence.

PKK terrorists set dorm on fire, one student injured

Terrorists from the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) have set fire to a dershane and its dorm that belong to the Hizmet movement in the eastern province of Muş, injuring at least one student.

Peruvian congress members speak about sociopolitical issues at PII in New York

Considering the recent developments in Turkey, many could find significant similarities between Turkey’s challenges with democratic transition and Latin American politics.

Who put those 4.5 million dollars there?

It is fair to say that no government, no organization, no company, no social club could ignore and permit any attempt from within to destroy itself. Even in that case, it is up to independent courts to probe such a conspiracy, plot or coup attempt. It is up to the independent courts, free of political pressure, to investigate both suspicions of a coup attempt and suspicions over large-scale corruption.

Latest News

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

University refuses admission to woman jailed over Gülen links

In Case You Missed It

The witch-hunt reaches Turkey’s media

Fethullah Gulen’s “old friend” detained by İzmir police despite suffering from advanced Alzheimer’s disease

Would Gülen want to return to Turkey?

Had the Kurds believed in Said-i Kurdi, their children wouldn’t have died

AK Party’s power poisoning

Dozens take to Parliament Hill to protest Turkish human rights violations

Kimse Yok Mu to provide meals to over 1 mln in Ramadan

Copyright 2023 Hizmet News