Gulen factor in Turkey's turmoil

Mian Wakeel Uddin

For the last few weeks, Turkey has been rocked by the country's biggest-ever bribery investigation which has led to the detention of some influential people within the ruling AKP party. In the aftermath, top ranking officials of police and judiciary have also been sacked in Ankara and Istanbul by the political government for "abuse of office". The Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan termed the graft probe as a "dirty operation" with international links to undermine Turkey's growing economy and to topple his popular government.

Erdogan Jumps out of the Frying Pan, into the Fire

Henri J. Barkey*

Prime Minister Erdogan won the day in Turkey’s municipal elections, but his one-party rule will be even more hotly contested as the August presidential election approaches.

Election results and the Hizmet movement

İhsan Yılmaz

Unlike the perception that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan tried to create, with the help of tremendous media power, the contention in the run-up to the elections was never between the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the Hizmet movement (or the so-called foreign forces that colluded with it).

Ballot box victory in an illiberal democracy

Begüm Burak

In a 1997 article titled “Democracy with Adjectives: Conceptual Innovation in Comparative Research,” David Collier and Steven Levistky wrote about “diminished sub-types of democracy.”

Cyber attacks on news websites threaten freedom of press, expression

Ongoing major cyber attacks on a number of popular news websites, including the Zaman, Today's Zaman and Taraf newspapers as well as the Cihan news agency, are not only preventing the portals from reporting the news to their readers but also constitute a big threat to freedom of the press and expression.

Stability unlikely

Amanda Paul

Based on election surveys, last Sunday's local elections were not expected to deliver any groundbreaking results despite the fact that many people were wishing for such a thing.

What will Erdoğan do?

Emre Uslu

There is nothing Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan can do to hurt the societal groups that oppose him if he acts within the law, because his opponents have not committed any crime. Opposition to Erdoğan is not a crime. However, it is obvious that Erdoğan will not remain within the limits of the law.

Erdoğan gov’t may soon launch witch-hunt type prosecution against opponents

There has been increased chatter in the Turkish capital signaling that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s government may soon open legal cases in order to harass his opponents, especially people and companies affiliated with the Hizmet movement inspired by Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, for their critical stand against corruption that has implicated senior government officials.

Interior Ministry planning to dismiss all reassigned police officers

Having conducted a sweeping purge in the police force resulting in the reassignment of nearly 15,000 police officers since a major corruption and bribery probe became public on Dec. 17 of last year, the Interior Ministry is now preparing to dismiss the reassigned officers in the upcoming weeks, sources close to the ministry claim.

US says criticism of Erdoğan has nothing to do with Gülen

US State Department Deputy Spokesperson Marie Harf has said that regardless of whether Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen was living in Pennsylvania or not, it would still not be OK for the government of Turkey to ban Twitter or crack down on dissenting voices.

Koza gold firm starts up company in UK

The Turkish gold firm Koza Altın, which has faced several setbacks in its mines in Turkey, has started up a 60-million pound ($100 million) capitalized company in the United Kingdom.

Prime Minister Erdogan’s Revenge

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey got what he wanted from Sunday’s elections for mayors and other local officials — a strong vote of confidence for his Islamist-rooted Justice and Development Party and its 11 years in power.

Forget about the gentleman living in Pennsylvania, US tells Ankara

Turkey should stop discussing “the gentleman in Pennsylvania” and instead focus on other important issues as a NATO ally, the U.S. State Department said, regarding U.S.-based Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen.

When Hearts Converged Through the Language Festival

It was again another colorful event when the Nigerian Turkish International Colleges organized their fifth annual language festival to remind the nation and world of importance of various cultural dialects and values.

Winning the battle, losing the war

Ömer Taşpınar

After months of polarization and political turmoil, it is finally election time in Turkey.

Opposition vows to resist Erdoğan's witch hunt in post-election era

Turkey's opposition parties slammed Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for employing hateful language and leveling threats at certain segments of society in his victory speech, saying they will oppose the government's attempt to stigmatize civic groups critical of Erdoğan.

Press freedom in pincers of gov't with arbitrary detentions, complaints

The Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government, led by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, dealt a new blow to freedom of the press when it arbitrarily detained two journalists and filed criminal complaints against several others, including Today's Zaman Editor-in-Chief Bülent Keneş, over the weekend.

AK Party maintains voters' support after chaotic election night

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) managed to maintain public support in a hotly contested election shadowed by allegations of fraud, power cuts and crippling cyber attacks on websites and the database of a private news agency and media outlets.

Champion of YGS university exam from Hizmet-affiliated FEM prep courses

The champion of this year's Higher Education Exam (YGS) university entrance examination, Oğuz Türkyılmaz, who prepared for the exam with the Hizmet movement-affiliated FEM University Preparation School in Malatya, says he owes most of his success to his prep school teachers.

Kaynak warns of ‘accelerated smear campaign'

The Kaynak Holding business group, an organization close to the Hizmet movement, said on Sunday that certain media groups have made it a target of smear campaigns and are using routine government audits as fodder.

Language, Meaning, and Purpose: Gulen's Perspective

Aalia Sohail Khan

Language is not only a tool for describing facts and performing vocative functions – it also defines and constitutes our humanity. It "gives voice to our thoughts, it is the rhythm of our feelings, and the excitement of our hearts; it is the interpreter in our communication with God Almighty."

Cihan News Agency Web Page Under Cyber Attack

Cihan news agency, who became a brand in Turkey in delivering the poll results in fastest way, has been exposed to a severe cyber attack during the day.

'Achievements made over last century being undone'

Ali Bulaç is a famous writer and columnist known for his contributions in the field of domestic and foreign policy as well as modernization issues in the Middle East.

Erdoğan's allegations proven to be incorrect, contradictory over time

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has over time turned out to be wrong or self-contradictory in his allegations over a number of issues in the past few years, which has cast doubts on his credibility as well as the credibility of his Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government in the eyes of the people.

Election 2014

Mümtazer Türköne

Every election brings with it its own unique balances and stories. And with these upcoming elections, we have seen unfold a series of stories that would challenge the most dramatic of action films. In some ways, it's like being addicted to a TV series; everyone goes to bed consumed by curiosity about what the next day will bring. It's almost as though we're watching a script for a TV series. In the morning, it never seems to disappoint; the same excitement that you would get from an action series starts up again. These are days when domestic disputes are no doubt on the wane; after all, the fights dominating the political arena surpass anything happening at home. Much less personal gossip is making the rounds right now, too; after all, politics in Turkey gives you more than any other source in the way of gossip these days.

Erdoğan sues Today's Zaman editor-in-chief, four others

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has filed a complaint against Today's Zaman editor-in-chief Dr. Bülent Keneş, Zaman deputy editor-in-chief Mehmet Kamış, Today’s Zaman columnist Emre Uslu, Journalist Önder Aytaç and Former İstanbul Police Department Intelligence Bureau Chief Ali Fuat Yılmazer on Saturday, a day before the local elections.

Huge support from Gülen to reassigned staff

Sedat Ergin

One of the most striking aspects of the Fethullah Gülen interview published in daily Zaman last week was the strong support he gave to the police and prosecutors conducting the Dec. 17 and 25 corruption investigations of 2013. Gülen has harshly criticized the reorganizing of staff these officials were later subjected to.

Erdoğan gov't supports Iranian contest while obstructing Turkish Olympiad

While Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has been attempting to obstruct the Turkish Language and Culture Olympiad, his government has been supporting a similar competition to be held in Tehran in August 2014.

Former AK Party minister praises Turkish Olympiads

Former interior minister and Justice and Development Party (AK Party) İstanbul deputy Abdulkadir Aksu said on Thursday that Turkish schools abroad serve as islands of peace, adding that he is looking forward to this year's Turkish Language Olympiads.

Erdoğan again quick to attribute Syria audio link to Hizmet with no proof

Only hours after the posting online of an alleged conversation between some state officials about a possible incursion into Syria, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was quick to attribute the leak to the Hizmet movement, without showing a tiny shred of evidence.

Politicized Friday prayer sermon supports blocking of social media platforms

The Religious Affairs Directorate has lent its support to restrictions on access to social media platforms YouTube and Twitter, which were blocked by the government to silence simmering dissent against it, after suggesting a politicized sermon be read in mosques across Turkey on Friday.

600 complaints filed alleging slander, libel against Gülen

A total of 600 complaints have been filed against those who have slandered and libeled Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen since a major corruption and bribery investigation became public on Dec. 17 of last year.

Turkish officials cancel green passport of Islamic scholar Gülen

The governor's office of the eastern province of Erzurum has cancelled the green passport of Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, citing some irregularities in his obtaining the passport in 1990, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported on Friday.

Police officer warns prosecutor of fabricated Hizmet evidence

An unnamed police officer who is said to be working at the National Police Department's Anti-smuggling and Organized Crime Bureau (KOM) has sent a letter to the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office in which he discloses the ongoing efforts to fabricate evidence to serve as the legal grounds for a police operation against the faith-based Hizmet movement.

Theologians: Lies, slander and defamation is unIslamic

Islamic theologians coming together in a workshop organized by the Journalists and Writers Foundation (GYV) have condemned recent allegations directed at the faith-based Hizmet movement by top government officials, stating that it is unIslamic to engage in lies, slander and defamation.

Pro-government media manipulates facts about Turks in the US

In an effort to defame the Hizmet movement and Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, the pro-government media in Turkey continues to fabricate news and distort facts, particularly about those residing in the US close to where Gülen lives.

Corruption Allegations In Turkey Make Sunday’s Local Elections Even More Important

Turkey’s main opposition party recalled parliament this week for an extraordinary session to discuss allegations of corruption against four former ministers that have damaged Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s government ahead of Sunday’s local elections.

Reuters: Ahead of vote, Erdoğan paints picture of Turkey besieged by enemies

To the adulation of the cheering crowds at his election rallies, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan paints a picture of an "evil alliance" plotting to topple him and break Turkey. In another place, on another day, his chief rival portrays him as a rogue doomed to jail or exile.

RTÜK suspends 15 more Samanyolu news shows, inflicting harshest penalty yet

The Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) has suspended 15 more programs of the Samanyolu Haber TV news channel, in addition to the suspension of 20 programs in mid-March, Samanyolu Broadcasting Group General Manager Hidayet Karaca said on Wednesday.

KADİP's 1st international photography contest held for peace

The Intercultural Dialogue Platform (KADİP) of the Journalists and Writers Foundation (GYV) announced the winners of its very first international photography contest, "Peace in the frame," at a gala on Tuesday night at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in İstanbul.

Kaynak Holding: Tax inspectors' visit was not ‘raid'

The Kaynak Holding business group, an organization close to the Hizmet movement inspired by Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, has denied claims that a Finance Ministry financial crimes unit carried out a raid at its headquarters in İstanbul, saying that inspectors were conducting a routine procedure.

Turkish watchdog cancels national broadcast license of critical TV station

The Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) has suspended the national broadcast license of Kanaltürk TV, citing an administrative decision from years ago, a legal controversy that adds to concerns that state agencies are stepping up a clampdown on any voice critical of the government.

‘It is not a battle of Gülen vs. Erdoğan, it is Erdoğan vs. democracy'

A panel discussion held at the House of Commons in London on Monday highlighted the recent developments in Turkish politics especially focusing on the relationship between the Gülen movement and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Constructs

Hasan Kanbolat

I do not like conspiracy theories. So, my goal with this column is certainly not to create any new conspiracy theories. It is just to try some broader thinking.

AK Party promises more despotism if it wins big in local polls

The existing political indications and thought-provoking remarks made by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan suggest that the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) may well get more despotic under a discourse of "advanced democracy" if it wins a big victory in the March 30 local elections.

Former police chief says anti-Hizmet operation to be based on fake evidence

Although Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has been threatening a police operation against the faith-based Hizmet movement for several months, he has taken no concrete steps so far, which suggests continuing efforts to fabricate evidence on which to base the would-be probe, according to former İstanbul Police Department Intelligence Bureau Chief Ali Fuat Yılmazer.

CHP candidate for Istanbul mayor, Sarıgül: Hizmet is not a political rival to Erdoğan

Q: What do you think about the insults of Erdoğan and AK Party politicians against the Hizmet movement?

Pro-government journalist resigns over daily's hate speech

The editor-in-chief at the pro-government Star daily announced on Wednesday that he has resigned from his duty on the grounds that he could no longer bear the hate speech the daily used for defamation.

Early general elections

Oğuzhan Tekin

Turkey's problem has turned into a regime crisis. Turkey's exit from the crisis is the coming elections. Therefore, the March 30 local elections are evaluated as general elections and a referendum for approval of the Justice and Development Party's (AK Party) rule.

Kimse Yok Mu reaches out to Pakistan with food assistance

Turkish charity organization Kimse Yok Mu, which has been operating in many countries of the world for years, went to city of Tharparkar in Pakistan to distribute food boxes people who suffer from starvation.

Fethullah Gülen: “Disbelief may prevail, but tyranny will not”

In the second part of this interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, the Turkish Islamic scholar discusses the Arab uprisings, the Sunni–Shi’ite sectarian tensions in the region, radicalism, and conservative Islam.

TUSKON wins compensation, to build orphanage in Uganda

The Turkish Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists (TUSKON) said it has won compensation in separate cases for the illegal wiretapping of a phone conversation which turned into a smear campaign against the confederation and that this money will be used to build an orphanage in Uganda, the country at the center of the smear campaign.

Excitement of Turkish Olympiads felt in Ethiopia

A remarkable program was held in Addis Ababa for the Ethiopian final of the 12 th International Turkish Olympiads was followed with great joy.

Turkey's Bank Asya says starts talks on partnership with QIB

(Reuters) - Turkish Islamic lender Bank Asya (ASYAB.IS) has started talks on a strategic partnership with Qatar Islamic Bank QISB.QA and it plans to complete the process soon, it said in a statement on Tuesday to the Istanbul stock exchange.

Is Hizmet being subjected to genocide? (2)

Orhan Erdemli*

I should point out that the first part of this piece published yesterday explained that what is intended in these articles is to discuss the recent ill treatment of members of a religious community and the operations conducted or to be conducted against them within the context of the notion of genocide in the international law.