The chairman of the opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), Devlet Bahçeli, has become the focus of mounting criticism from many segments in society after he called on internationally renowned Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen to “suspend his activities” worldwide.
According to the MHP leader, recent operations carried out as part of the Ergenekon investigation have put the scholar under suspicion and that Gülen needs to “take action” to address the suspicions. He has suggested that Gülen suspend his activities worldwide.
Police searched the houses and offices of some suspects earlier this week as part of the investigation into Ergenekon, a clandestine criminal organization accused of planning to overthrow the government. They seized draft copies of a book authored by jailed journalist Ahmet Şık, “İmamın Ordusu” (The Imam’s Army), which reportedly talks about followers of the Gülen movement in the Turkish police force. Opponents of the Ergenekon investigation argue that police operations were launched because of criticism directed at the Gülen movement.
Parliament Speaker Mehmet Ali Şahin said the MHP leader had done “an injustice to Gülen with his statement.” According to Şahin, Gülen should not be made a factor in internal Turkish politics. “What kind of a link can exist between a judicial decision and Gülen? None. The statement [by Bahçeli] is unjust and groundless,” he said. Şahin also defined Gülen as a man who is busy with scholarly pursuits, residing in the US.
Grand Unity Party (BBP) Secretary-General Mustafa Destici asked the MHP leader if he wants Gülen to stop his education activities worldwide and suspend the International Turkish Language Olympiads. Hundreds of young students from dozens of countries across the world visit Turkey every year to compete in singing, poetry recitation and prose composition in Turkish. “I do not share the same opinion with Devlet Bahçeli,” he said. The MHP leader’s remarks also drew reactions from within his own party, too. Orhan Bıçakçıoğlu, a former deputy from the MHP, said he was surprised by Bahçeli’s statement. “I would not have been surprised if such a statement had come from the Republican People’s Party [CHP] leader,” he noted. Bıçakçıoğlu also said MHP voters would best respond to the statement in the June 12 parliamentary elections. “Bahçeli is concerned that investigations into coup plans will reach him someday. He is aware of coup plans devised in 2003. He defined Gülen as a man who threatens the existence of the Turkish Republic on many occasions,” the former deputy stated.
Another former MHP deputy, İsmail Köse, said Bahçeli’s remarks should not be attributed to the entire MHP. “Neither can the MHP act in hostility toward Gülen nor can Gülen feel enmity toward the MHP. We are hearing remarks that define Gülen as a gang leader from the ranks of Parliament. I condemn all those remarks. I traveled to Turkish schools [opened by the Gülen movement] in Turkmenistan with Devlet Bahçeli. The MHP leader congratulated the movement for its efforts then,” he recalled.
Published on Today's Zaman, 02 April 2011, Saturday
