April 29, 2014

Proof of the 'parallel state'

Mümtazer Türköne

The prime minister's case is similar to that of the "Boy who cried wolf." It is the famous Aesop's fable about a boy who deceived villagers a few times but lost his credibility after his lies were discovered. Thus, in the face of a real threat, he was unable to make anyone believe him. Before large crowds of people, the prime minister made big claims. He said he would back up his claims shortly but still cannot prove them after a long time.

Pro-gov't AHaber labels German president Hizmet's imam

AHaber Tv, one of the government's several media outlets, labeled German President Joachim Gauck the Hizmet movement's imam in an article published on Tuesday.

Clash of the Anatolian tigers

Pinar Tremblay*

In the post-election climate, fears of the Gulen movement seem validated as we observe a gradual, yet drastic shift in the Turkish business alignment map. On April 23, the Capital Markets Board stopped Bank Asia from issuing sukuk (Islamic finance certificate bond) debt. Bloomberg reported on April 26, "The Turkish lender in partnership talks with Qatar Islamic Bank must ask the regulator for permission to issue further sukuk under a 1.25 billion lira ($587 million) debt program.” Asia Bank, the lender, is a member of TUSKON, the Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists of Turkey, known for its close association with the Gulen movement.

‘Parallel’ fear changes capital market body’s name

A vast operation launched against supporters of Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen has caused a capital market association to change its English abbreviation out of fear of being associated with Gülen’s Cemaat (Community).