Does Gülen Support a Political Party?
As in every election period, again our media is seemingly looking for the answer to the question of who sects and religious communities vote for. I am saying "seemingly" because people are being confused by idle series of articles, baseless and biased assessments and very inaccurate determinations.
Yesterday such a series of articles began in Milliyet daily. It was as if the Gülen community supports Justice and Development Party (AK Party), as if there are 30 people in the Gülen community among the parliamentary candidates of the AK Party and as if those were in positions from which they can be elected. As if the community had supported Bülent Ecevit's Democratic Left Party (DSP). Personally I really wonder about those 30 AK Party parliamentary candidates. Responsibility and honesty declare that these candidates must be named. What does "it is being said" mean? Who is saying this? Do they speak the truth? Are those 30 candidates asked about their involvement in the movement?
Many people are applauding and attending the services of education and intercultural dialogue advised by Gülen. When those people become parliamentary candidates, are they to be considered members of the Gülen community? I know such fabricated facts, delusions and prejudices are affecting and hurting him. As a matter of fact Gülen sent a statement to Milliyet via his lawyer. He declared that he is not a leader of a sect or a religious community; he emphasized he feels that directing the Turkish people toward a particular party is disrespectful.
In the past Gülen met with many political party leaders. The late Turgut Özal, Alparslan Türkeş, and Bülent Ecevit, and Süleyman Demirel, Tansu Çiller and Mesut Yilmaz were among them. He didn't speak about daily politics with any of them. He accepted the meetings as opportunities to talk about the country's issues. It is true that Gülen respected Özal and Ecevit greatly. However, he never became their political supporter. Gülen never gave advice or encouragement to vote for Ecevit. Furthermore Özal and Ecevit appreciated his services and respected him. However neither sought electoral support or political support from Gülen. Ecevit's political understanding did not permit such expectations, a fact known by the people who knew Ecevit.
By the way, I should note that Ecevit was the pioneer of an approach to secularism respectful to religions; he pointed out the left would be at peace with the genuinely pious people.
Again, by the way, I have to say something about the words "community" and Fethullahçilik (a term used pejoratively to refer to followers of Gülen). Gülen said he loathes words such as "fethullahçi" and he doesn't accept such fabricated facts like "ci" or "cu" (Turkish suffixes that have the meaning of -ist in this context). Gülen also pointed out that it is wrong to call those engaged in services promoted by him, like intercultural dialogue and education, as a "community." He said these people should be called "the lovers of the Volunteer Movement."
Associating those people together with a political party or a government will besmirch those good services. And it will evoke a feeling of being deceived among them. Gülen announced: "We are in equal proximity to all parties. I am not saying equal distance, we are in equal proximity. Because all the followers and sympathizers of every party are our people. People's parties and people's political ideas are not barriers to our being friends with them."
Again, just before an election, those who say "Gülen is supporting such and such party," should give up fabricated facts and prejudices. Those who will be unsuccessful in the elections should forget the excuse of "If they supported us, we would not be in this situation."
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