Hizmet movement sticks to principles, AK Party transformed by the state


Date posted: January 22, 2014

İSTANBUL

Holding ia press conference in light of the recent row between the government and the Hizmet movement on Wednesday, Journalists and Writers Foundation (GYV) President Mustafa Yeşil asdi the Hizmet movement has not changed its principles in the last half century but the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) has been transformed by the state and lost its reformist nature.

Meeting with mostly representatives of foreign media outlets in İstanbul, Yeşil emphasized the principles of the Hizmet movement inspired by the teachings of Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, such as voluntarism, independence from the state and civility, while arguing that the AK Party has set aside concerns for further democratization.

Had the AK Party adhered to the European Union process and continued its progressive efforts, it could have further democratized the country, according to Yeşil. However, “The state has transformed the AK Party, and what we see now is a party-state,” Yeşil pointed out. He argued that after gaining control of the institutions inherited from the military tutelage system, the government halted democratization.

Summarizing the guiding principles of the Hizmet movement, Yeşil said that, as a civil society movement based on voluntarism, the Hizmet movement has not changed its principles in the last 50 years. Underlining the importance of the movement’s financial and intellectual independence, Yeşil said the Hizmet movement has never received any support from the state.

“Hizmet has never led its supporters to a specific political party,” Yeşil noted. However, in response to a question about the possible reaction of Hizmet movement followers within the AK Party, Yeşil said that since the prime minister’s insulting remarks about the Hizmet movement have caused strong disappointment among people who vote for the AK Party, their reaction will be reflected in the election. “Time will tell what this reflection will be, but the prime minister’s reaction is not proportionate against … a group with 1 percent of the vote,” Yeşil added.

Emphasizing the importance the Hizmet movement attaches to pluralism and accepting people as they are, Yeşil said, however, that there is prejudice, misinformation and defamation surrounding the movement in the media. And yet, Yeşil said that no matter how harsh the criticisms and insults are, the movement will keep its calm attitude and principle of “positive action.”
Hizmet movement is not a secret organization

Also responding to journalists’ questions, associate professor İhsan Yılmaz of Fatih University said that although there have been similar accusations about the Hizmet movement since the Ergenekon trials, claiming that it has control over the judiciary and the police, there has not been a single piece of evidence proving such arguments.

“There are Hizmet people within the state bureaucracy,” Yılmaz says, but he emphasizes that there is no proof that they receive orders from anyone but their superiors within the state. According to him, such arguments attract attention because they are “juicy” and include elements about an imam controlling the state.

Yılmaz said the Hizmet movement is not a secret organization, noting that it is difficult to determine who its followers are. “Is it the businessman who donates a million dollars to Kimse Yok Mu [Is Anybody There], or the foreign teacher who works at Turkish schools abroad?” Yılmaz asked.

He further stated that the organizations affiliated with the Hizmet movement are under the scrutiny of the state and are transparent. However, he acknowledged that people who support the Hizmet movement within the state do not always openly express their feelings, because the state has always been oppressive of religious people in Turkey. “You cannot blame them,” Yılmaz said in reference to those bureaucrats. He also referred to the secret data collection on civil servants who are suspected of being close to the Hizmet movement by the National Intelligence Agency (MİT).

According to Yılmaz, Hizmet receives its legitimacy from its supporters, and nobody is compelled to join or leave the Hizmet movement.
Hizmet movement does not perform political engineering

Responding to a reporter’s question, Yeşil said the Hizmet movement does not have an operating style that favors political engineering. He said the principles of the Hizmet movement overlapped with the principles of the AK Party when it was established. Yılmaz also noted that the Hizmet movement applauded the government up until 2010.

As far as the vision of the Hizmet movement when it comes to the secular state is concerned, Yeşil referred to Gülen’s statement that the state does not have a religion, unlike individuals. According to him, as long as an individual is able to freely practice his faith, teach it to his children and have institutions where he can receive religious education, there is no need to search for another form of state.

Source: Todays Zaman , January 22, 2014


Related News

Hate Speech is Undermining Turkey’s Fragile Democracy

Many TV viewers could not believe their ears upon hearing the terms “blood sucking vampires, leeches, traitors, spies, worse than Shiites, and assassins” uttered by then Turkish prime minister Erdogan in his political rallies.

African Initiative on Education for Peace and Development through Inter-religious and Intercultural Dialogue

African Heads of states and religious leaders have launched the ‘African Initiative on Education for Peace and Development through Inter-religious and Intercultural Dialogue’ in Cotonou, Republic of Benin.



Nigeria won’t allow mistreatment of her students by Turkey – Presidency

According to Dabiri-Erewa: “The Federal Government is taking the detention of Nigerian students by Turkish authorities seriously. It seems that Turkey is trying to get at Nigeria for our failure to close down the 17 schools they requested. The government did not close down these schools because their owners and managers, who are private people have not breached Nigerian laws.”

Gülen says planned assassinations of prominent figures in Turkey could be blamed on him

In a video shared Sunday night on the Herkul.org website, where his speeches are aired, Gülen said after a graft probe in 2013 and the July 15 coup attempt, government circles are now planning to pin the blame on him and his movement, also known as Hizmet, for the planned assassination of several famous figures in Turkey.

Once shut down by Taliban, now Afghan gov’t plans to hand over successful Turkish Schools to Turkish Gov’t

Afghanistan president Ashraf Ghani has agreed to hand over the Afghan-Turk schools, previously run by a pro-Gulen institution, to the Turkish Education Foundation which is a governmental institution. This step has, however, not been welcomed by the affected schools. Officials of the schools have warned that the move would lead to closing the schools and damage the quality of education.

Opposition leader Destici: Since when has exposing graft been a crime?

Allegations previously dismissed by judicial authorities are being raised again. People in the bureaucracy are being profiled. Officers have been removed from their posts in some ministries. Furthermore, mayoral elections are scheduled for March, and campaigning is becoming tenser.

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

Saylorsburg protesters focus on Turkish cleric

Turkish schools dominate award ceremony in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Gulen-inspired NGO opens health and education complex in Uganda

Liberia – Turkish school system holds 7th Science Fair

Minister: Turkish gov’t racks up $5 bln in confiscation of Gülen-linked properties

Who is escalating tensions?

From republic to al-mukhabarat state

Copyright 2023 Hizmet News