Newsweek Defames Gulen

Bruce Prescott, PhD

Newsweek has published an essay entitled "Behind Turkey's Witch Hunt" by Soner Cagaptay that appears to be a thinly disguised attempt to defame the character and intentions of Fetulah Gulen and his movement.

Comprehending the internal political machinations of factions and parties within foreign countries is always challening for an outsider, but I am reasonably certain that the following observations hold true:

1. The form of secularism that has prevailed in Turkey until recently has been hostile to religion and not neutral. Secularist cabals within the military have repeatedly overthrown and executed democratically elected leaders for being too religious.

2. All the evidence that I have seen -- in his writings, in his disciples, and in the institutions that he has created -- indicates that Fetulah Gulen is promoting a moderate and enlightened form of Sufi Islam that encourages interfaith dialogue and respects religious pluralism. There is no doubt that he is one of the most popular religious leaders in Turkey.

3. The real witch hunt began in 2000 when secularist state officials accused Gulen of plotting to overthrow the secular government and create a theocratic state. In 2008, after eight long years of litigation, Turkey's Supreme Court of Appeals finally confirmed Gulen's acquittal by a lower court in Ankara.

4. Mr. Cagaptay's essay is as careful to perpetuate suspicions about Gulen's political influence as it is careless about taking note of any suspicious relationship between Turkan Saylan and the women working for the Society for Contemporary Life (CYDD) and the secularists.

The flaws in Cagaptay's essay are so egregious that Newsweek owes Fetulah Gulen an apology.

I cross-posted this blog in the comment section below Cagaptay's essay on the Newsweek website.

Someone posted a comment stating that I was employed by Fetulah Gulen and being compensated for my remarks.

I tried to respond to the comment on Newsweek's website, but their weblog would not take my response.

For the record. I have never met Fetulah Gulen. I do not work for him. I have never received compensation for anything from Fetulah Gulen or any of his followers. Nor has Fetulah Gulen or any of his followers ever made a contribution to the organization that I do work for and from which I do receive compensation -- Mainstream Oklahoma Baptists.

Related Articles:

Soner Çağaptay’s Fight against Turkey by Mehmet Kalyoncu

 

Read Original Article:

http://mainstreambaptist.blogspot.com/2009/05/newsweek-defames-gulen.html

Ebubekir says:

The article is well organized and displays the intention behind Mr. Cagaptay's actions.

Even these are the truth, the defamation allegation will accuse Mr. Prescutt as a worker for Gulen Movement.

shan says:

i think Mr. Gulen is one the most promising of the scholars of our time. his attitude towards indulgence promotes everyone to strive to be a better person no matter what religion they are. his open arms are very inviting to peace and the brotherhood.

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