May 2, 2014

Debunking Erdoğan's smear campaign against Gülen

Abdullah Bozkurt

Acting as prosecutor, judge and executioner, Turkey's chief political Islamist, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has already convicted a well-respected Islamic scholar, Fethullah Gülen, of what he called a civilian coup attempt, a fabricated charge devised by Erdoğan to discredit the vast graft scandal that incriminates him and his associates, including his family members. The beleaguered Prime Minister Erdoğan has publicly declared Gülen -- who is critical of the corruption and the lack of transparency and accountability in Erdoğan's government -- as his enemy number one without presenting a single shred of evidence to prove Gülen's involvement in clandestine activities against the Turkish government, including orchestrating the graft probe.

In Turkey, how Germany’s president became ‘Germany's imam’

Mustafa Akyol

On April 28–29, German President Joachim Gauck paid an official visit to Turkey that became more controversial than expected. The reason is that Gauck, who followed the usual diplomatic routines, criticized the Turkish government on four sensitive issues: its recent bans on social media, tensions with the Constitutional Court, interference with the judiciary and pressure on the media. In response, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan slammed Gauck, accusing him of "telling lies." He also criticized him for allegedly "supporting Turkish atheists in Germany" and acting like "he is still a pastor," leaving the connection between atheism and pastorhood murky.

Kimse Yok Mu offers a hand of compassion to Kyrgyz orphans

Dedicated to the fight poverty and destitution in 110 countries across the world, Kimse Yok Mu Foundation (KYM) has recently signed a protocol of assistance to the orphan with the Kyrgyz Foundation of Education. Under the terms of the protocol, KYM will make a donation of 2,280,000 dollars to Kyrgyz orphans.

No perpetrators found but ‘parallel structure' behind wiretappings, PM argues

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan asserted on Friday that the ‘parallel structure' is behind the illegal wiretapping of a meeting of high-ranking officials in the Foreign Ministry building, despite the fact that no suspects have been identified in relation to the recording that was leaked in March.

CHP Leader: Erdogan portrays Gulen Movement as enemy

Upon a question about a probe opened against Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, who is in self-exile in the U.S., Kılıçdaroğlu said if there is any structure that damages the state, it should be tried before the court. However, Kılıçdaroğlu also stated that the rift between the Gülen movement and government is mainly caused by the fact that Erdoğan is attempting to create an enemy because “dictators tend to create enemies.” He also said it is ridiculous for Erdoğan to say that the Gülen movement has ruled the country for 12 years.

News excerpt from Hurriyet Daily News, 02 May 2014, Friday