Last Updated on Thursday, 13 December 2007 03:27 by Hüseyin Gülerce, Today's Zaman Wednesday, 12 December 2007 21:00
Fethullah Gülen is facing difficult times, as do all distinguished people who aim at serving their religion and country. He shares the same destiny with them. If records on every person were reviewed, Gülen would undoubtedly be the only person others could not be opposed to. But prejudiced people who are displeased with the fact that the Turkish nation is taking direct steps on the path toward modernization with its own values cannot grasp what Gülen has done for his nation.
When the Soviet Union collapsed some 17 years ago, Gülen called on the Turkish nation to open schools in newly established Turkic republics at every opportunity, including his sermons in mosques. "Anatolia owes loyalty to Central Asia," he said, adding, "Be quick, if you lose time and are late, you will be welcomed like foreigners in these countries, not like brothers." Those who loved him and followed his advice with pleasure did not hesitate even for a moment. Some 17 years have passed since then. Now we may look at the distance covered in our relations with Turkic republics in Central Asia from that one piece of advice from Gülen. Hundreds of students representing over 100 countries flocked to İstanbul on May 25-June 2 on the occasion of the Fifth International Turkish-Language Olympics. These students attend Turkish schools. They love Turkey. They know our flag and Atatürk. They adore the Turkish nation thanks to their teachers. They grow up as friends of Turkey from the cradle. They will, undoubtedly, work voluntarily for the formation of Turkish lobbies in their countries.
Such steps taken to pay a loyalty debt turned into a humanity project when they started to yield fruit and spread to all seven continents. Thousands of children and young adults of different religions, races and languages, attracted to the quality of these schools, compete with each other to be educated by teachers who represent our values. Some 5,000 students apply for only 100 places. In what other field has Turkey drawn such interest and success on a global scale?
Did Gülen attain unprecedented success only in foreign countries? No... The southeastern issue stands out among the most important matters Turkey struggles with. We all cry out to prevent Kurdish citizens from ascending to the mountains to join the terrorist organization and try to strengthen the ties of fraternity within our society. Who gave a helping hand to eastern and southeastern provinces? Who exerted the utmost effort to found schools and newsrooms in eastern provinces of Van, Diyarbakır, Hakkari and Batman in order to prevent its youth from going to the mountains? Who flocked to remote villages in the Southeast to give meat to the poor during the Feast of the Sacrifice (Kurban Bayramı), foregoing time with their own families on the holiday? Republican People's Party (CHP) İstanbul deputy Nur Serter treats Gülen as an enemy. She says that the "houses of light" operate like a concealed organization. "We do not expect a minister who eulogizes Fethullah Gülen to take measures against these houses."
It is apparent that some circles heat up debates over the headscarf issue with further provocation. If these houses and dormitories where university students stay pose a threat to the unity of the nation, then why doesn't the state have security forces or law courts look into this? Suppose that the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) ties the hands of judicial bodies and deters them from launching investigations into these houses and dormitories, then why didn't political parties in power on Feb. 28 investigate this "concealed organization"?
Let me answer. They did and on several occasions. A college in İstanbul was investigated 80 times in six months. Students were negatively affected and the school administration filed a complaint to then-prime minister Bülent Ecevit. He was shocked and asked: "How can they dare to play a dirty trick on students and their education?" Those investigations proved that no concealed organization lies behind the houses and schools in question. There are several deputies both from the CHP and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) who visited the schools recommended by Gülen and praised the high standards of education there. But why do they keep silent? Why don't they give voice to their impressions regarding these schools? Is it so difficult to back the truth and national interests? Is loyalty merely the name of a district in İstanbul?
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