LDP leader says received ‘indecent proposal’ from pro-gov’t paper


Date posted: January 23, 2014

ANKARA

Liberal Democrat Party (LDP) leader Cem Toker has claimed that he was asked by a pro-government newspaper to speak to the paper about the existence of a parallel state in Turkey so that his statement could be published in a headline story on the front page.

Toker called the request an “indecent proposal” and said that he immediately rejected the offer.

“They said I would make the headline story of the newspaper if I agreed to speak to them about the existence and alleged activities of a parallel state. I rejected this indecent proposal. Let them keep their headlines and proposal,” the LDP leader said on Thursday, speaking to Today’s Zaman. The leader did not provide the name of the newspaper that he says approached him.

When a large corruption investigation was made public on Dec. 17, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan sought to discredit the investigation by calling it a “foreign plot” and an “attempt to damage the government made by a parallel state nested within the state.” Dozens of people, including businessmen close to the government and the sons of three then-Cabinet ministers, were detained as part of the probe. Twenty-four of them were later arrested.

Though he never openly stated it, it is widely acknowledged that the parallel state Erdoğan spoke of was a veiled reference to the Hizmet movement inspired by Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen.

Since then, many reports that apparently seek to discredit the movement have appeared in a number of newspapers that are known for their sympathy with the government.

Stressing that the proposal shows the desperation of the government and the pro- government media, Toker said: “Thinking that we would break our rules shows their desperation. This situation also shows the worry of this government that disregards the rule of law. We were the last party in the latest election. They are so desperate as to come to us.”

Toker said that on principle he will not name the newspaper or the reporter who made the offer, but that it will not be difficult to guess when the latest news is covered.

Commenting on the allegations of a parallel state, Toker said that in democracies the executive, legislative and judicial powers are parallel powers that check each other. Toker maintained that the government, having control of the legislative branch, it is now trying to exert power over the judiciary.

“On one side of the executive branch there is the legislative branch and on the other side there is judicial power [in democracies]. Those three powers are parallel structures. It shows that they [the government and pro-government media] do not even know as much as the ‘d’ in democracy if they speculate about the judiciary being a parallel state when the activities of the judicial branch were contrary to the government’s interests,” added Toker.

Toker said the government is trying to create a judiciary under its control and that it is denying the universal values of the law. “Those responsible [for corruption] should pay the price before the law. Their indecent proposal, recalling a Michael Douglas movie, cannot save them,” said Toker.

Source: Todays Zaman , January 23, 2014


Related News

Dozens of US Congress members attend major convention of Turkic Americans

Dozens of members of the United States Congress, as well as US administration officials and other leading public figures, attended the fourth annual convention organized by the Turkish American Alliance (TAA), the biggest umbrella organization of Turkic Americans, reiterating the solid ties between the people of the US and Turkey.

A Different Kind of Coup? Why You Should Care About A “Reclusive” Turkish Imam in Pennsylvania

We should consider not only what people say about Fethullah Gülen, but what he says himself. Decades of speeches and publications make this possible and reveal certain attributes. For example, Gülen advocates a form of Sufi humanism. He seeks collaborative relationships across religious, cultural, and national borders. He is concerned about the poor and marginalized around the world.

Gülen movement-backed Abant Platform to discuss Alevi-Sunni ties

The Alevi issue is the key theme of this year’s Abant Platform, which started on Dec. 13 by way of the organization efforts of the Gülen Movement-affiliated Journalists and Writers Foundation (GYV). The three-day meeting which has gathered intellectuals from various ideological camps came at a time when tension between the government and the movement has become extremely visible in the eyes of the public due to the former’s plans of “transforming” the private “cram schools.”

Political Activism for Peaceful Coexistence in Rumi and Gulen

In Gulen’s view -as strongly emphasized by Rumi more than seven centuries ago- action is an inseparable aspect of tasawwuf, and Muslims should be actively involved in the community, share their experience with others, strive to help others and bring peace to the global village.

Turbulent times [in Turkey due to corruption probe]

The arrest of several people close to the government, including three ministers’ sons, accused of taking significant bribes, has shaken the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) government to the core and plunged Turkey into political uncertainty. Whether it is the case or not — the Gülen movement denies it — the timing of the arrests has created the widespread perception that the investigation is linked to the growing tension between the AKP and the Gülen movement, also known as Hizmet.

A new Exilic Community: The Hizmet Movement

After the alleged military coup that failed, the Islamic-rooted government forced hundreds of thousands of faith-based community members out of Turkey, causing a massive diaspora of Turkish citizens (deprived, however, of their citizenship) around the world.

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

Mr. Gulen is trying to interpret the broad humanistic principles of the Qur’an for the modern world

Expert: I fear that Turkey is headed to a prolonged period of civil conflict if not civil war

What Erdogan and Khomeini Have in Common

A strong message for Erdogan

Normalization of Abduction, Torture, and Death in Erdogan’s Turkey

Code ‘111′ profiling of ‘Hizmet’ on Parliament’s agenda

‘Turkish schools are excellent good will ambassadors for Turkey’

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News