Shocking change and disappointed hearts…

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan


Date posted: January 21, 2014

BEGUM BURAK
Since 2010, democratization efforts have slowed down to an important degree.

In this context, critiques and concerns regarding the changing discourse and policies of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government have been raised in some circles. The Zaman and Today’s Zaman dailies, affiliated with the Hizmet movement, have tried to direct friendly criticism to the government with the aim of shedding light on the importance of democracy and pluralism for Turkey. However, the AK Party government has begun to ignore these friendly comments. Especially since the beginning of the corruption scandal, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, as the head of the government, has stigmatized the opposing voices, among which Hizmet is the bravest and most influential, as traitors collaborating with external forces to overthrow the government.

Since Dec. 17, Erdoğan’s discourse has become more and more strict and a major smear campaign has been initiated by the pro-government media against the Hizmet movement, which has been active in education activities all around the world. The Hizmet movement and the followers of Hizmet have never been affiliated with violence or any other crime-related issues. This was proven as a result of a judicial process. Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, who inspired the movement, was accused of ruling an illegal organization seeking to undermine the regime of Turkey and acquitted in 2008; however, nowadays the government is trying to take advantage of this idea to portray Hizmet as an illegal organization that bypasses the law and the rules of bureaucracy in order to put an end to the government.

It is quite shocking to see how much Erdoğan and the government have changed with regard to the Hizmet movement. In June 2013, at the Turkish Olympiad, a language festival organized by the International Turkish Education Association (TÜRKÇEDER), Erdoğan saluted the Hizmet volunteers who work as teachers all over the world saying, “Students from around the world make the Turkish language the language of love. They manage to spread the love, tolerance and respect of the Anatolian people to all continents and to all geographies. I heartily congratulate the teachers [at Turkish schools around the world] who are working with self-sacrifice in countries very far away from their homelands.” (Today’s Zaman, June 17, 2013). Although Erdoğan did not mention any names in that speech, everyone agreed that the salute was apparently for Islamic scholar Gülen.

“We want this longing to end,” Erdoğan said during the final event of Turkish Olympiad, which brought students from Gülen movement schools all around the world together. Erdoğan said, “We want to see those who are abroad and longing for the homeland among us.” (Hürriyet Daily news, June 16, 2012)

Today (mostly since Dec. 17), Erdoğan has completely changed his stance and discourse toward Hizmet. Erdoğan now associates Hizmet with the Hashishiyyas (Assassins). Journalists and Writers Foundation (GYV) Chairman Mustafa Yeşil strongly rejected the label, saying that the goal of the Hashishiyyas was “murder” and that it is absolutely unacceptable to compare the Hizmet movement to a community of killers.

It is a really shocking change that the government has recently been going through. I hope that Erdoğan and his associates can realize that they are on the wrong track.

Source: Todays Zaman , January 21, 2014


Related News

On the mysterious deportations of Turkish teachers

Built over a decade ago, Lahore PakTurk International School has a state-of-the-art building with an indoor Futsal court and an auditorium that can accommodate 500 students. In 2006, General Pervez Musharraf conferred a civilian award on the PakTurk International Schools and Colleges, recognising their services to Pakistan.

Foes on the Run as Erdogan Makes Power Personal

Members of the Gulen religious movement insist they are innocent of plotting against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey, but he has chased them into the shadows, and they fear for their lives and livelihoods. At the same time, Mr. Erdogan has increasingly made himself the face of Turkey’s state, and now he is seeking more authority to rule.

İpek Holding chairman denies reports about alleged mansion for Gülen

İpek said the dailies had reported baseless news using imaginary scenarios as though they were facts. İpek said the mansion had recently been renovated as his mother will move in

Secular Turks may be in the minority, but they are vital to Turkey’s future

What a decade and a half of AKP experience has shown is that the problem with democracy in Turkey has deep social roots that go way beyond the political power struggles on the surface. Both an authoritarian political culture and conservative social values inhibit the emergence of a pluralist democracy. In the last decade, Muslim conservative elites have shown little interest in establishing a fully fledged democracy. This is not surprising: democracy is largely understood by most Turks to be just about elections.

Zaman reporter says won’t leave her job on PM’s orders

Zaman correspondent Tuğba Mezararkalı, who was told by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to change her job and leave the Zaman daily during a press conference held on Friday, has said Erdoğan is clearly intervening in freedom of the press, stating she did not begin her job in Zaman, where she has been working for four years, on the prime minister’s orders and would not leave her job on his orders as well.

Fethullah Gulen and the Kurdish Issue

Fethullah Gulen ponders over many issues that range from faith to ethnic problems in Turkey. Furthermore, through faith and cultural values, Gulen is able to mobilize wide and influential segments in the society. I think, his words should be paid attention and listened.

Latest News

Erdogan’s Failed Crusade: The World Rejects His War on Hizmet

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?

In Case You Missed It

Foreign Policy Magazine Interviewed Fethullah Gulen

‘When the last gang becomes a thing of the past’

Profiled lawyer files criminal complaint against MİT, MGK

Turkish associations in US condemn Boston Marathon attack

International Conference on Hizmet Movement in Taiwan

Jurist’s report highlighting illegality of Karaca’s arrest submitted to top court

Fethullah Gülen’s lawyers fear attacks on his life amid calls for return to Turkey

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News