Erdoğan distorts Gülen’s NYT op-ed, says it is about Bank Asya operation

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has presented a distorted interpretation of an op-ed written by Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen that was published in The New York Times, claiming the op-ed is about the takeover of the board of Islamic lender Bank Asya by Turkey's banking watchdog.

Contrary to the claims of the president, the op-ed was a discussion of the erosion of democracy in Turkey under Justice and Development Party (AK Party) rule.

“You see, a person in Pennsylvania writes for a newspaper in America. Why does he write? About a lender. Hodja, are you really a hodja or a bank boss? Who are you?” Erdoğan said during a speech in Bursa.

Gülen's op-ed, however, was published hours before the banking watchdog handed over management control of 63 percent of the privileged shares of Bank Asya to the state savings fund. The op-ed was published on Tuesday, while the appointment of executives from the state savings fund to Bank Asya took place Tuesday night.

Moreover, the op-ed, which primarily discussed the reversal of democratic progress in Turkey, didn't make direct reference to the bank or the operation that took place hours after the publication of the piece.

The banking watchdog seized control of the bank on Tuesday, citing insufficient transparency to allow for proper regulation.

During the same speech, Erdoğan also criticized The New York Times for publishing Gülen's op-ed and implied that the newspaper and the scholar are cooperating against “a powerful Turkey.”

“Look, what does he [Gülen] lean on? The New York Times, that so-called newspaper. Well, where is this patronage? You can find it: Who is the manager of this newspaper? How do they let him write here? The plan is different. You should know that those inside and outside of the country don't want a powerful Turkey. Everyone has risen up for this,” Erdoğan said.

Published on Today's Zaman, 06 February 2015, Friday

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