Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli's attacks on leading Turkish Muslim scholar Fethullah Gülen during election rally speeches has had a major disenfranchising impact on his potential voters in Erzurum province in eastern Turkey, the birthplace of Mr. Gülen himself.
In what many saw as a campaign that utilized “undeserved and uncalled for targeting” of Mr. Gülen by the leadership of the MHP, nationalist votes, strong enough to claim one seat in the last parliamentary election in 2007, seem to have been curtailed drastically in this election cycle.
“Why Bahçeli attacked our revered son is mind-boggling,” said Vefa Kızıltunç, the head of Korucuk village, the home village of Gülen, which is located 25 kilometers east of Erzurum's city center. “I think he has committed political suicide here by saying nasty things about him,” Kızıltunç added. Gülen is seen as an apolitical scholar above the political fray here and was respected and admired greatly. He is an international figure preaching dialogue and understanding among faiths and cultures, many say here.
The local MHP delegation campaigning on behalf of the party candidates in Erzurum were booed out of the village when they dropped by to ask for votes. “They were in a rush to leave the village when local residents reacted strongly against their presence because of Bahçeli's unacceptable remarks about Mr. Gülen,” the village head said.
Mr. Gülen, who has pioneered educational activities in a number of countries, along with efforts to promote intercultural and interfaith activities around the world, strongly denied Bahçeli's accusations. Other political leaders also harshly rebuked the MHP leader, saying Mr. Gülen is not a political figure, and it was wrong to attack him politically.
That did not stop Bahçeli, however, from continuing his allegations. He even increased his attacks on Gülen, saying: “I deeply regret that Turkey is locked in the equilateral triangle of [Prime Minister Recep Tayyip] Erdoğan, Gülen and [outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) leader Abdullah] Öcalan.”
In an interview with Today's Zaman, Muhyettin Aksak, a Justice and Development Party (AK Party) candidate for deputy from Erzurum, expressed his anger at the MHP, saying Bahçeli insulted the electorate in Erzurum. “He also put the MHP at risk of losing the only seat they might have picked up. People are outraged that one of their sons [Mr. Gülen] came under attack unfairly and for no reason whatsoever,” he explained.
Muzaffer Gülyurt, an incumbent who decided to not run for a parliamentary seat this time, shares the same view. “Bahçeli must be out of his mind. It does not make any sense to go after Mr. Gülen, who is respected by millions including residents of Erzurum province. He shot himself in the foot and will pay a hefty price by losing out in big numbers in this election,” he told Today's Zaman.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has also criticized Bahçeli's controversial statements about well-respected Muslim scholar Fethullah Gülen, describing his remarks as being “tantamount to betrayal [of the MHP's roots].” “To me, the MHP's attack on Gülen is tantamount to betrayal. It is a very ugly thing. … What he did is very ugly and shameful. I condemn [Bahçeli's remarks] as an act of betrayal,” Erdoğan said.
Yalçın Topçu, leader of the Grand Unity Party (BBP), which is an MHP rival on the nationalist platform, severely criticized Bahçeli as well. Topçu said: “It seems that Bahçeli is undergoing troubled times. He has lost his balance and reason.”
Published on Today's Zaman, 07 June 2011, Tuesday
