Did you say blackmail?
Accusations about an imaginary parallel state are being made. The tone of this discourse has become stronger even though there is no concrete evidence. One minister who is quite close to the prime minister says he does not find these allegations convincing. In fact, this is the general movement.
However, some still call the most peaceful movement in the world a gang and assassins. They break hearts and hurt their consciences. While not a single statement on the concrete accusations of corruption and bribery is made, strong accusations are directed against the Hizmet movement. They are making grave accusations, including of espionage. Last week, they added another element to the set of accusations: blackmail and threats. Will you look at where this lack of conscience and fairness has led?
It is obvious who is blackmailing whom. Is not it a threat if you ignore legal evidence referred to a court of law and speak in the squares about illegally procured tape recordings? Won’t the people ask, “You manipulate public opinion by referring to illegal recordings, but why do you ignore the legal evidence?” Well, somebody said pineapple on the phone. They argue that pineapple is a codeword. I challenge them: They need to prove it. You should first offer a plausible explanation for the $4.5 million kept in shoeboxes.
We remain patient; Internet sites publish some conversations. The zoning of land is changed to build luxury villas; governors who oppose illegal acts are reassigned. We have not published a single line of these allegations. But instead, black propaganda is created on the basis of archived tapes that raise serious issues in terms of how they were acquired. We should ask, “Since when did talking to Fethullah Gülen and sharing views with him become a crime?” And there are more: “If talking to Gülen is considered a crime, haven’t the prime minister, president and ministers done the same? Haven’t those who hold these tapes spoken to Gülen in person? If talking on the phone and taking advice is a crime, isn’t talking in person a graver one? Doesn’t this make those who acquired these tapes illegally the chief suspects before the law?”
To better understand who is blackmailing whom, it is sufficient to hear what the media world says. Some circles tell the people that there are many figures who will be put under arrest. Some columnists and writers who have said that a list has been made and this list will be referred to the prime minister are using methods even the figures of the Feb. 28, 1997 military coup did not use. They use intimidation and blackmail. Someday, large books will tell who shaped public opinion with threats and intimidations. Who gave the orders to fire journalists, which media groups were engaged in suspicious activities, who was appointed to be commissioners at which papers and TV stations and which media groups were taken under control will never be forgotten, and these will all be exposed and disclosed someday.
Is it all about the media? The prime minister himself threatened the Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen’s Association (TÜSİAD) just because they made a statement a few days ago. What does, “How can you dare to come and do a job with us?” mean? What does it mean when you accuse them of treason just because they warned that foreign investors would not choose our country? Are these threats limited only to TÜSİAD?
Which justice system is sending tax officers to those who express their views, as a form of sanction? Even the Feb. 28 figures did not consider ensuring the collapse of certain companies through legal force.
Unfortunately, the blackmail and threats are being used by the state. Those who use this blackmail and these threats call what they do journalism. They make phone calls to people telling them that they will be arrested to create a state of intimidation through ungrounded accusations. Allah is Great; someday, things will become clear and those who caused this disturbance and turmoil will answer in front of history. Those who do not want to be ashamed that day should listen to the voice of their conscience rather than the sounds of the witch hunt.
Unless these questions are answered
There are many questions that have needed answers for months, but those who should respond to these questions remain silent. They are talking about other things, and they are even covering up the truth by discussing other matters. However, the doubts and questions will remain. For instance, the papers published a report stating that with a prosecutor and three police officers, they can finish the Hizmet movement by designating it a terrorist organization. The Journalists and Writers Foundation (GYV) also referred to this matter in an 11-item declaration. For months already, people have been saying that nothing like this has even been considered. Some statements being made regularly at the present time confirm this argument.
Documents showing profiling were published, proving that people from different groups and communities have been profiled. No statement has been made so far to address this allegation. Besides, a horrible witch hunt in various state institutions seems to confirm the allegation that thousands of people have been profiled.
Many newspapers gave extensive coverage of the latest trip of the prime minister. Unfortunately, the prime minister said many things with a unilateral approach. There are two things that cause curiosity: For instance, a news report, “Is it a crime to recommend benevolence?” was published in only one paper. If this is really good, why did the other papers ignore it? Secondly, an Internet site states that the prime minister said, “You will see that the judiciary, bureaucracy and media of the parallel state will be prosecuted.” But then this section was taken out of the interview text after a request. This allegation was not dismissed. If the prime minister does not dismiss this allegation, does it not confirm the suspicion that the executive branch gives orders to the judiciary to make people the suspects of fabricated crimes?
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan insists on using hate discourse. A person serving as prime minister cannot employ such harsh language. Last week, he made denigrating remarks about some Islamic scholars, calling them shallow clerics. He could not clearly express who he was referring to, but his supporters' hints show that he is referring to people known for their competence and knowledge of Islamic studies. This is a real shame. You cannot rule a country by insulting people. This harsh language causes two major types of damage: First, you radicalize your supporters and provoke them into using violence. Secondly, those people who feel insulted run out of patience and make similar remarks. Such deep hatred hurts those who hold the hatred.
In fact, I wanted to hold my tongue on this matter, but it is an obligation and a responsibility to raise our voices to address a longstanding mistake before history. The Department of Religious Affairs (Diyanet), while functioning to integrate and unite the people, seems to have been serving as the extension of a political party. Diyaney now uses the discriminatory and demonizing discourse of the political administration at its events and meetings. The country is turning into a party-state through the lies about a parallel state; at this juncture, certain institutions and people should remain calm and reasonable. Diyanet is one of these institutions. Given that there is no such thing as a party's religious affairs, they need to avoid the crime of hate discourse. Parties come and go, but institutions like Diyaney should make an efforts to create an embracive atmosphere for all, including Alevis.
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