Touching the innocent

Hüseyin Gülerce

The row between the government and the Hizmet movement is moving along a very delicate line that may lead to serious repercussions and losses. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan argues that he is dealing with a parallel structure; but while doing that he makes millions of innocent people upset despite all warnings.

His insulting and offending remarks -- “We will go in their caves” and using words like “gang,” “virus” and “assassins” -- have become a discourse of hate and hatred in the hands of provocative circles; believe me, as a result, all the connections between hearts and minds are being destroyed.

We all agree that if there is a structure within the state that violates the law, resists civilian rule and takes orders from external actors rather than their superiors, this cannot be tolerated. Nobody would be bothered if they are identified and prosecuted properly because there is a Hizmet movement dedicated to serving the people and humanity and offering peace to the world, which is sick of wars. There is no other Hizmet movement outside the country. For three decades I have met with members of the Hizmet movement in different places. I have known small business owners, businessmen, students, teachers, laborers and others who are members of this movement. I have always seen honest people who have good intentions and good deeds. These people who just say that life is a huge lie if you have no link to Allah would not hurt this country or the state. I strongly believe that making offensive remarks vis-à-vis such innocence and purity will attract the wrath of Allah.

I realize that the prime minister occasionally makes a distinction in his remarks between the parallel structure that he is determined to eliminate and the large masses. But this distinction is very subtle. He does not underline or strongly voice this difference and distinction. Instead, he makes grave generalizations that offend the entire movement whose members were recently described by the prime minister as assassins in reference to Hassan-i Sabbah.

I wish Prime Minister Erdoğan would be aware of the fury his remarks have caused because his children, the kids of the president, the ministers and most of the deputies have attended the prep schools and dorms of the Hizmet movement. Can anybody say that anybody in these institutions has told these kids anything contrary to Islam, humanity or ethics?

We are having a great test; we are losing many things; we are losing friendship and brotherhood. We are losing trust, dignity and honesty. Warm friendships are turning into hatred because of enemies of this nation and state. Who knows how many foreign intelligence agents are provoking the parties in this row and hitting the right buttons amid attempts to attain peace?

The Muslims of this country have always been associated with tolerance and solidarity. Now, the whole world is trying to define us with reference to terror and corruption. We have always defended the proposition that Islam and democracy can coexist in this world and that our beautiful country could become a center of attraction through an exemplary democracy based on the rule of law, pluralism and transparency. How can we promote this in the wake of such grave losses?

Published on Today's Zaman, 16 January 2014, Thursday