Gülen's Lawyer Denies the News of Sabah Newspaper

The news report titled "Gülen is deported" that was published by Sabah newspaper from the front page, has been declared untrue. The lawyer of Fethullah Gülen who is one of the most respected moderate Islamic scholars in the Muslim world, Orhan Erdemli said that Sabah publishes news reports based on fictional sources and added, "My client Fethullah Gülen does not have any problems concerning his passport or visa period."

Erdemli emphasized that there is no prepared file for Gülen's restitution to Turkey and at the same time there is no arrest verdict. Erdemli further stated that the falsification of claims can be checked from the Turkish and U.S. authorities.

The lawyer of Fethullah Gülen made a statement concerning the news reported by Sabah newspaper dated August 29, 2002 from the front page titled "Gülen is deported" and from the 18th page titled "Visa shock to Gülen".

In the news report, by Sabah, it was stated that the passport expiry date of Fethullah Gülen was not extended by Turkey and that the U.S. has decided not to extend it neither. Lawyer Erdemli declared that this was not the reality. In the statement it was said that: "By conducting a small investigation by Turkish and American authorities, it could be seen that my client Fethullah Gülen has no problems concerning his passport's and visa's expiry date, that my client will not be tried with the death penalty and that there is not even an arrest verdict concerning my client and that there is no file prepared for the restitution of my client to Turkey. These claims based on fictional sources are creating doubts in the minds," added lawyer Erdemli.

Erdemli stated that his client: "Is not involved in any illegal activities." Sabah's claim that said that the American authorities that have found out that Gülen's health does not show any life threatening symptoms and Turkey lifting the death penalty decided to bring Gülen back to Turkey has no connection with reality," said Erdemli. 08.30.2002