May 1, 2012

GYV: Alleging Gülen supported coups is huge distortion of truth

Today's Zaman

The Journalists and Writers Foundation released a statement on Tuesday in response to various allegations circulating in the media that Fethullah Gülen, a well-respected Turkish Islamic scholar, supported the Feb. 28, 1997 unarmed intervention, dismissing such claims as a major distortion of the truth. The statement, posted on the foundation's website, offers an explanation regarding the recent speculation in the press about the stance and statements of Gülen during the Feb. 28 period.

The statement noted that neither Gülen nor the Hizmet movement he has inspired claimed to be perfect in everything they do. It noted that the Gülen community is open to constructive criticism and had no objection to questions regarding the movement's stance in the face of military interventions. However, such questions should be well meaning and posed with good intentions.

You may find the full text of the GYV's statement below:

Murder on the February 28 Express

İhsan Yılmaz

The judiciary is now dealing with the Feb. 28 coup, and several retired high-ranking officers are now under arrest. It appears that this time, the prosecutors are determined not to make trivial but overblown mistakes as they have in the Ergenekon cases. They are proceeding with extreme caution and prudence.