Turkish deputy PM says Fethullah Gülen is supra-political, conscience of 75 million people in Turkey

Deputy PM Bülent Arınç (Photo: AA)
Deputy PM Bülent Arınç (Photo: AA)


Date posted: May 23, 2013

Turkey’s deputy prime minister has hailed the role of respected Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, saying that his thinking and behavior are well beyond what he called the “limited boundaries” of politics. Bülent Arınç met with Gülen last week in his residence in Pennsylvania in a visit he described as “personal.”

In an interview with TRT Türk TV channel on Wednesday, Arınç described Gülen as “supra-politics,” and said he is the “conscience of 75 million people” in Turkey. He praised Gülen for only talking truth and recommending right things, even to the opposition.

Arınç also dismissed speculations that there is discord between the Gülen movement and the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party).

He frequently called Gülen “Hocaefendi” during his interview, a title followers use for him. Arınç said he first knew Gülen in 1975-76, when Gülen was on duty preaching in the Aegean province of Manisa. He said before the visit to Gülen in Pennsylvania, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan sent his greetings.

“Would he have any orders, recommendations for us, please ask him this too,” Erdoğan said, according to Arınç. In Turkish language, asking someone if he or she has any “orders” is an expression of respect.

Gülen is a Turkish Islamic scholar well known for his teachings promoting mutual understanding and tolerance between cultures. Now residing in the US, Gülen has pioneered educational activities in a number of countries, along with efforts to promote intercultural and interfaith activities around the world.

He has also written nearly 50 books in Turkish, some of which have been translated into several languages.

Arınç said there have been a number of speculative reports that appeared in the media related to the Gülen movement’s activities in Turkey and that he wanted to ask Gülen directly about them. “We wanted to ask him directly about all this, if he has any recommendation or proposals or if there is any mistake we made and we will ask him to enlighten us in this respect,” Arınç said.

Arınç categorically rejected claims of any rivalry or dispute between the government and the movement, saying “I explicitly reject this.”

The deputy prime minister said those who are speculating about a dispute between the government and movement don’t know exactly who Gülen is or have no idea what his activities are all about.

Arınç said it is not right to put Gülen into the frame of a political party or see his services to people as in line with the government’s policies. “For me, Hocaefendi is a supra-political man. We are not expecting a Fethullah Gülen affiliated with the AK Party. He is not indifferent to politics but we should not think of him within the limited boundaries of a political party or as someone who would say “great” to every step of the government. He can see better than us. He can assess things better than us. He is very closely following Turkey and the world. I personally witnessed that,” Arınç added.

Gülen is regarded as the founder and inspirer of the global social movement known as the Hizmet (Service) Movement, more popularly known as the Gülen Movement.

In March 1999, upon the recommendation of his doctors, he moved to the US to receive medical care.

Despite the high regard millions hold for him, Gülen considers himself a volunteering member of the civil society movement he helped found and does not accept any credit of leadership of the movement.

Gülen currently resides in Pennsylvania and continues to write and give talks on various subjects.

Arınç said Gülen “loves Erdoğan very much” and that he reiterated this in his speech. He added that he is praying for him and that he believes he has great services for the people. The deputy prime minister stated that Gülen appreciates the successful policies of the government in the past 10 years. But he said Gülen also made warnings regarding “some topics,” without elaborating.

He said Gülen urged restraint and said the government should be more careful about some of its discourse.

Arınç said both he and Gülen agreed that that there is a need to prevent damaging speculations and that they could directly talk to each other in case of miscommunication or any speculations.

Arınç also slammed those who claimed that Arınç returned from the visit “empty-handed” or that he was not greeted well there. “These all are untrue. Our friendship is for the sake of God. We love him because of his great services so far, for many services he has provided to Turkey and the world up to today,” Arınç said.

Arınç recalled that Erdoğan earlier asked Gülen to return to Turkey and that he will be delighted to see him back in Turkey but said it is not possible today.

Arınç said Gülen is longing for his “homeland” and when “you look at gifts he received in his room, you can see that they are mostly bowls with soils from different parts of homeland.”

“He loves Turkey a lot and his fidelity to his country is deep. I think he will stay there [in the US] for some time for several reasons. He believes it is unlikely that he will return to Turkey now,” Arınç added.

Source: Today’s Zaman May 23, 2013


Related News

Gulen Movement, civilian governments and the AK Party

The Gulen movement’s understanding of politics and the political process differentiate it from the military and bureaucratic elite. Its main political objective is to transform society by raising the moral consciousness of individuals. By raising moral consciousness, the movement hopes to cleanse the bureaucracy of widespread corruption, increase the efficiency and transparency of state institutions, reinvigorate public work ethic to serve the people in order to enhance the legitimacy of the state, and create opportunity spaces for marginalized sectors of the Anatolian population.

Gülen book finds wide readership in northern Iraq

A book written by Kurdish journalist Rebwar Karim on Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen’s approach to the Kurdish question has been attracting a significant amount of attention in northern Iraq.

Bosnia rejects Turkey’s extradition request for journalist over Gülen links

The Justice Ministry of Bosnia and Herzegovina has put an end to Turkey’s persistent efforts to have a journalist living exile extradited to Turkey on trumped-up terrorism charges, setting a strong precedent for other Turkish citizens resident in Bosnia who are being harassed and threatened with prosecution in Turkey.

Erdogan’s False Promises To Africa

The main issue Erdogan raises with his African counterparts is not improving economic and political relations, but the closure of the Gulen movement schools or their transfer to the Turkish Maarif Foundation, which was established solely for this purpose. Mr. Erdogan seems to be using official development assistances and “other financial tools” as carrots to convince African leaders.

Abant Platform meeting launches with identity debates in Turkey

SEVGİ AKARÇEŞME, ABANT/BOLU/TURKEY The Abant Platform started its 28th meeting on Friday at Lake Abant with the participation of over a hundred intellectuals, academics, journalists and pundits from different ideological backgrounds to discuss the current issues in Turkey. The first theme of the meeting was on Turkey’s issues of identity. Participants agreed that the misinterpretation […]

Fethullah Gülen’s Message of Condolences and Condemnation of the Terrorist Attack in Istanbul

Fethullah Gülen: I condemn, in the strongest terms, the cruel terrorist attack carried out beside the Istanbul Beşiktaş Football Stadium that cost the lives of 44 of Turkish citizens, the majority of whom are members of the security forces.

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

Zambia seeks flow of Turkish investments at TUSKON event

GYV President Mustafa Yeşil answers questions about the Gulen movement

German state minister: Persecuted Turks can apply for asylum in Germany

What we learned from the operation

Filipino military awards Turkish high school for peace initiatives

Astonishing questions about the failed coup attempt in Turkey

The Independent: Turkish men ‘face torture’ after being extradited from Malaysia as post-coup crackdown continues

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News