Muslim Times’ managing director Zia Ahmet has given an interview calling the events in Turkey, “unbelievable” and Erdogan regime’s allegations about Fethullah Gulen as “ridiculous”.
Describing the self-exiled cleric Fethullah Gulen as “a sufi person” Ahmet says “he is not an active person directing various institutions and people from there. It is a very indirect form of inspiration which he has given and people love him for that” Stating that Fethuallh Gulen is on the same path of Hasan El Benna and Sayyid Qutb, Ahmet says “I think there is one thing very unique about Fethullah Gulen is that he was not sort of he was exclusive in the sense that he did not want to work among Muslims as well, but actually to reach out to non-Muslims.” Ahmet says “In this day and age we have to be inclusive of everybody. So one thing which strikes me about him is that he reached out to Jews and Christians. And the way his movement and his thoughts have been is to live Islam not only to talk about Islam but live Islam in the modern world.”. Zia Ahmet describes the movement inspired by Fethullah Gulen as “the best way to live Islam.”
July 15 Coup Attempt
Denouncing the coup attempt , he called the the post July 15 coup purge of teachers, judges, lawyers, academics, diplomats , beurocrats and journalists a “great loss” for Turkey, Zia Ahmet also said that it was disappointing and makes him sad that those people in Turkish jails are being tortured.
“Terror Accusations Unbelievable”
He says : “When I heard that those institutions or organisations which has been inspired by Sheikh Fethullah Gulen they have been named as terrorist organisations. That was really unbelievable. I just could not understand that who would vilify them like that.”
“Hizmet Does not Compromise from Islam”
On the allegation of Gulen movement is compromising Islamic values Zia Ahmet says : ” I think that, in my opinion the way he has been living Islam or inspiring people to live Islam all things are very much in accordance with the Quran and Sunnah. There is no compromise there. We have got examples of Prophet in Madina who reached out to Christians and Jews and formed the constitution of Madina to live with other people not to convert everybody. That wasn’t the idea. I think the way Sheikh Gulen has done is in a similar way without compromising ” He adds about the movement: ” I do not think there is any idea of compromising Islamic principles and Islamic ways of living.”
“Turkey is destroying itself”
Saying that Turkey was emerging in the last 15 years to play a great international role no Muslim country was playing, Ahmet adds : “That made us very happy that Turkey was emerging as a leader of Muslim countries and taking part into Muslim affairs. But now this division, this thing which has happened is really disappointing that now they are basically, Turkey act like a suicidal team trying to destroy themselves.”
