There’s no end to games of ‘new Ottomans’

Mehmet Barlas, Sabah

It is now clear that the power of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) is not going to be diminished by coups, memorandums or the launch of party closure cases.

Those who want to overthrow the AK Party tried to support the Republican People’s Party (CHP) to render it a stronger opposition party, but that was not enough, either. Their new project is to divide AK Party voters by setting the AK Party and the Hizmet (Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen followers) movement against each other. Gülen is a leader who promotes peace, altruism, reconciliation and the establishment of modern education centers. And the AK Party is a party that enabled Turkey to enter a new stage in globalization by restoring democracy, civilianization and cultural values. Both the AK Party and the Hizmet movement proved that Islam can overcome violence and that the service of believers knows no limits. So, how is it possible or logical to set these two groups against each other?

Published on Today's Zaman, 24 April 2012

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