Gülen extends condolences for death of former deputy PM Arınç’s brother

Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen
Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen


Date posted: February 25, 2016

Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, who inspired the faith-based Hizmet movement, has offered condolences to former Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç, whose elder brother, Yıldıray Arınç, was laid to rest on Tuesday.

In his message Gülen expressed his sympathy to Arınç over the passing of his brother and stated: “When I found out about the sad death of dear Yıldıray Arınç, the brother of distinguished politician and statesman Bülent Arınç who formerly served as a speaker of Parliament and deputy prime minister, I felt very sorry [about the situation]. I extend my condolences to Mr. [Bülent] Arınç and the family and wish that Allah gives them patience [to deal with their loss].”

While deputies, state officials, former ministers and large number of people gathered during the funeral of Yıldıray Arınç in Manisa, there was no representative from the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government present at the funeral.

Manisa Governor Erdoğan Bektaş, İzmir Governor Mustafa Toprak, former AK Party ministers Sadullah Ergin, Hüseyin Çelik, Beşir Atalay and Zeki Ergezen, AK Party Manisa deputies Selçuk Özdağ, İsmail Bilen, Murat Baybatur, Recai Berber and Uğur Aydemir and Cengiz Ergün, the Manisa mayor from the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), were present during the funeral.

Republican People’s Party (CHP) Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, the Parliament Speaker’s Office and the Manisa branch of the Felicity Party (SP) each sent a wreath to the funeral.

There were no messages of condolence or wreaths sent by the AK Party government, the Prime Ministry or the Presidency for Arınç’s loss on Tuesday.
After his statements on a TV show on Jan. 29 criticizing the AK Party government and President President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for the government-orchestrated witch hunt against the Gülen movement, Arınç was targeted by pro-government Twitter trolls and dailies.

Former Ministers Ergin and Çelik were also targeted by pro-government and pro-Erdoğan circles after they announced their support for Arınç.

Meanwhile, as part of the witch hunt against the Gülen movement in Manisa, six people — including the former doctor of Arınç, Fahrettin Er — were arrested on Tuesday.

Educational institutions, student dormitories, charities and media outlets established by those inspired by Gülen’s views have been targeted in government-orchestrated operations across Turkey since a major graft scandal was revealed in December 2013, implicating members of the AK Party government and people from the inner circles of Erdoğan.

Without providing any concrete evidence, Erdoğan accused the Gülen movement of plotting to overthrow his government and said that sympathizers of the movement within the police department had fabricated the graft scandal. The Gülen movement strongly denies the accusations.

Source: Today's Zaman , February 24, 2016

Tags: | | |


Related News

Gülen’s lawyer likens hate campaign against his client to Nazi era

Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen’s attorney Nurullah Albayrak said the smear campaign targeting his client to marginalize him has peaked, stressing that the hate speech Gülen has been subjected to for months is comparable to Nazi era discriminatory practices.

Gulen movement sympathizers committed to interfaith dialogue, charity and nonviolence

George Mason University professor, Jack Goldstone, shares his view of Fethullah Gulen and Gulen Movement. Goldstone says he is particularly glad that Gulen has such a remarkable influence over his sympathizers who are committed to the promotion of interfaith dialogue, charity and nonviolence. Speaking of Gulen’s anti-violence stance, Goldstone recalls Gulen’s touching statement, as he […]

Being the conscience of a nation

Fethullah Gulen’s brother Hasbi Gulen, who passed away last October, wanted to visit his older brother in America in late 2000. He shares his intention with a friend before applying for a visa.
His friend told him that he needed to prove financial ability to support himself in the US to obtain a visa. Hasbi Gulen needed to show car and home titles, tax returns, and any other assets he had. When his friend asked “which one of these documents do you have?” Fethullah Gulen’s brother replied “nothing but my birth certificate.”

Erdoğan gov’t signals change to allow re-trial of officers

At public rallies, Erdoğan has been floating a claim that a gang within the state is attacking his government in the name of corruption. He claimed he has evidence with regard to this group and wanted to expose this evidence soon.
Erdoğan has not offered any evidence so far indicating that such a group acting in violation of the law operates within the judiciary or police force.

Erdoğan’s accusation that Hizmet organized the coup attempt is noxious and absurd

The name of that “terrorist organization” was not spoken, but Ökem was referring to the so-called Fethullahçı Terör Örgütü. To the rest of the world, it’s the Hizmet movement founded by Fethullah Gülen, a former close and important ally of Erdoğan. No one else sees it as violent. Erdoğan’s accusation that it organized the coup attempt is noxious and absurd.

Al-Azhar has examined and approved all the works of Mr. Gulen

Egypt’s Al-Azhar University, one of the most respected Islamic Sciences centers in the world, and the Islamic Research Association, has examined the works of Gulen found no contradiction to the school of Sunni Islam. Beyond these works, in some universities, especially Al Azhar, many master’s and doctoral theses on the subject of Hizmet and Mr. Gulen have been published.

Latest News

Turkish inmate jailed over alleged Gülen links dies of heart attack in prison

Message of Condemnation and Condolences for Mass Shooting at Bondi Beach, Sydney

Media executive Hidayet Karaca marks 11th year in prison over alleged links to Gülen movement

ECtHR faults Turkey for convictions of 2,420 applicants over Gülen links in follow-up to 2023 judgment

New Book Exposes Erdoğan’s “Civil Death Project” Targeting the Hizmet Movement

European Human Rights Treaty Faces Legal And Political Tests

ECtHR rejects Turkey’s appeal, clearing path for retrials in Gülen-linked cases

Erdoğan’s Civil Death Project’ : The ‘politicide’ spanning more than a decade

Fethullah Gülen’s Vision and the Purpose of Hizmet

In Case You Missed It

A festival in Houston: Silk road festival

Gülen offers condolences for police officer, resident

Private schools leave mark on Science Olympiad

Governor asks Turkish organisation to focus on Balochistan

Afghan-Turk School Students Shine Abroad

Japanese journalists express concern over Turkish gov’t pressure on critical media

Canada grants asylum to eight Gulenists under UN protection in Mongolia

Copyright 2026 Hizmet News