Gülen to file criminal complaint over illegal wiretapping

Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen will file a criminal complaint against those responsible for illegally wiretapping many of his phone conversations with friends, Gülen's lawyer Nurullah Albayrak said in a press statement.

Albayrak has called on prosecutors and officials to expose an illegal organization in Ankara believed to be responsible for wiretapping influential figures' phone calls and also for a campaign of defamation.

His statement came after phone records of Gülen speaking about efforts to shut down private financial institution Bank Asya appeared on a number of websites on Monday, deepening concerns over the privacy of individuals amid an ongoing graft scandal that has encircled Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's government.

“There is broadcasting and reportage on some websites and newspapers violating norms of privacy of communication in terms of wiretapping and recording conversations between individuals. Presenting the phone conversation [Gülen's phone conversation with a friend] as an illegal situation when in fact the content includes nothing that could be considered illegal is unfair and unlawful,” said Albayrak.

Gülen's lawyer said he would start a legal process against those newspapers who run stories in violation of Turkish Penal Code (TCK) Law No. 132 and 133 and against those who played a role in the wiretapping.

Published on Today's Zaman, 14 January 2014, Tuesday