In the wake of video clips that have surfaced involving four senior members of the MHP having affairs with women and insulting right-wing voters, Bahçeli accused those “beyond the [Atlantic] ocean” of having a role in the emergence of the video clip scandals.
He was referring to well-respected Islamic scholar Gülen, who resides in the US. Gülen, who has pioneered educational activities in a number of countries, along with efforts to promote intercultural and interfaith activities around the world, strongly denies these accusations.
“The person we are talking about is Fethullah Gülen Hocaefendi, who has remained innocent all his life. We owe a debt of gratitude to him for his service to our country. Such remarks [by Bahçeli] make politics ugly. Bahçeli made these remarks and I strongly condemn him [for doing so]. … You should speak [against someone] if you have proof,” Akdağ said on Thursday while speaking to reporters in Erzurum.
Akdağ also recommended the MHP conduct a survey in Erzurum, his election region and Gülen's hometown, to see what Erzurum locals think about Bahçeli's reference to Gülen.
In response to Bahçeli's controversial remarks, Gülen recently said a smear campaign -- with accompanying propaganda -- is under way against people who exert their utmost efforts to introduce Turkish culture to the rest of the world, calling for common sense in response to those behind the campaign and the propaganda.
Publishsed on Today's Zaman, 12 May 2011, Thursday
