Fethullah Gülen's lawyer comments on his freedom of expression remarks

fgulen.com

Fethullah Gülen

Commenting on Gülen's remarks, his lawyer, Orhan Erdemli, explained that his client has many times in the past said he is a strong defender of freedom of the press. Stating that Gülen also takes criticism of his person within the scope of freedom of expression, he added, however, that this freedom is being misused against Gülen as serious insults are leveled against his client.

Below is the full text of remarks by Orhan Erdemli on Fethullah Gülen’s expressions:

For more than fifty years, Mr. Fethullah Gülen has expressed his opinions with his public speeches, with the articles and books he wrote. These ideas are followed with interest by many people worldwide. As is the case with every thinker, it is a natural fact that there are people who agree with or oppose the ideas of Mr. Gülen.

Nevertheless, freedom of thought is among universally accepted essential rights. As a consequence of this right, everybody should be express their opinions freely and criticize the thoughts of others as well.

As it was stated so many times previously, Mr. Gülen favors the freedom of press and expression of opinions in an extensive way. To state that in his own words: “Even if their ideas are purely contradictory, even if they blame me—unfairly—for what happened to them, I favor that they enjoy their liberties to express their thoughts, opinions, and ideas freely.

Therefore, my client accepts it as a necessity of freedom of press and speech, if the thoughts he expressed are criticized and are opposed.

However, it is a fact that the freedom of press and speech is abused from time to time. By hiding behind the right to criticize and seemingly state opposing views, worst insults are made against the beliefs of my client and his personal rights are violated, accusing him with baseless slanders.

This situation is not seen as legal anywhere in the world, no understanding of law and ethics accepts that within the right to criticize; prevalent laws define freedom of press as “rights to obtain information, publish, criticize, comment, and to produce works.” Laws emphasize that criticism should be based on real facts, made in a civilized attitude, within the frame of law and ethics, in order to guide construct a good public opinion and make the society progress, in a scientific approach. Therefore, the statements of those who hold my client responsible for the legal processes they underwent have nothing compatible with law, freedom of speech, and ethics.

Those who defend such unfair and insulting statements within freedom of thought remained completely silent at the process when my client was brought to court for his ideas. They did not remind of law at all concerning the besmirching campaigns against my client, in spite of the definite verdict of acquittal about him. We express that this biased attitude which is made to seem favor law is a grievous one, and leave the rest to the appreciation of the public opinion with our respects.

Published on fgulen.com, 27 March 2012, Tuesday