Essential Reading on the Gulen Movement
Page created July 28, 2013; last updated May 3, 2014
A large mass of printed matter and web material about the Gulen Movement has been published, but much of it is self-promotional propaganda. Often, sources that appear independent of the Movement are in fact not. Further, even reports from outside the Movement have at times made misleading or inaccurate statements. To save the reader time in sifting through all this, a list of the most genuinely insightful publications is provided below.
May 2, 2014
McClatchy Foreign Staff, Roy Gutman
"Trial of writers in Turkey drags on amid charges of politics"
http://www.sacbee.com/2014/05/02/6374140/trial-of-writers-in-turkey-drags.html
http://www.kansascity.com/2014/05/02/4998542/trial-of-writers-in-turkey-drags.html
Article covers the highly flawed Odatv trial and very questionable legal processes against two award-winning Turkish journalists, Ahmet Sik and Nedim Sener. "Instead, what the defendants have in common is that they wrote books or chapters criticizing the enormous behind-the-scenes role of Fethullah Gulen, an elderly moderate Islamic cleric who lives in self-exile in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains and is Erdogan’s bitter foe. ... Sener says he was charged and jailed after he wrote a book that alleged Gulenist policemen were behind the 2007 killing of another journalist, Hrant Dink."
McClatchy Foreign Staff, Roy Gutman
"Trial of writers in Turkey drags on amid charges of politics"
http://www.sacbee.com/2014/05/02/6374140/trial-of-writers-in-turkey-drags.html
http://www.kansascity.com/2014/05/02/4998542/trial-of-writers-in-turkey-drags.html
Article covers the highly flawed Odatv trial and very questionable legal processes against two award-winning Turkish journalists, Ahmet Sik and Nedim Sener. "Instead, what the defendants have in common is that they wrote books or chapters criticizing the enormous behind-the-scenes role of Fethullah Gulen, an elderly moderate Islamic cleric who lives in self-exile in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains and is Erdogan’s bitter foe. ... Sener says he was charged and jailed after he wrote a book that alleged Gulenist policemen were behind the 2007 killing of another journalist, Hrant Dink."
Feb 9, 2014
The Guardian, Constanze Letsch
"Turkish police caught in middle of war between Erdogan and former ally Gulen"
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/09/turkish-police-fethullah-gulen-network
This article covers the power struggle between Turkey's Prime Minister Erdogan and his former ally, Fethullah Gulen. This struggle is now out in the open. The article also mentions the Gulen Movement's deep infiltration into the Turkish police and judiciary, and how those who wrote critically of Gulen or exposed the Movement's activities faced retaliation.
The article begins with lines that illustrate the astonishing, and completely undemocratic and unaccountable, influence that Gulen wields in Turkey: "Turker Yilmaz* was not long into his police academy training when he realised how the system worked. The good jobs, the better pay, the promotion prospects all depended on your dedication to a shadowy Islamic network with its headquarters based in Pennsylvania."
The Guardian, Constanze Letsch
"Turkish police caught in middle of war between Erdogan and former ally Gulen"
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/09/turkish-police-fethullah-gulen-network
This article covers the power struggle between Turkey's Prime Minister Erdogan and his former ally, Fethullah Gulen. This struggle is now out in the open. The article also mentions the Gulen Movement's deep infiltration into the Turkish police and judiciary, and how those who wrote critically of Gulen or exposed the Movement's activities faced retaliation.
The article begins with lines that illustrate the astonishing, and completely undemocratic and unaccountable, influence that Gulen wields in Turkey: "Turker Yilmaz* was not long into his police academy training when he realised how the system worked. The good jobs, the better pay, the promotion prospects all depended on your dedication to a shadowy Islamic network with its headquarters based in Pennsylvania."
June 18, 2013
Rudaw - Wladimir van Wilgenberg
"Turkey’s Gulen Movement Could Endanger PKK Peace Process"
http://rudaw.net/english/middleeast/turkey/18062013
"Recent disagreements between the Turkish government and the powerful Gulen movement over the withdrawal of Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) rebels could endanger the peace process. ... The movement, which is believed to have deep influence in the Turkish judicial system and police, is critical of both the PKK and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan."
Rudaw - Wladimir van Wilgenberg
"Turkey’s Gulen Movement Could Endanger PKK Peace Process"
http://rudaw.net/english/middleeast/turkey/18062013
"Recent disagreements between the Turkish government and the powerful Gulen movement over the withdrawal of Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) rebels could endanger the peace process. ... The movement, which is believed to have deep influence in the Turkish judicial system and police, is critical of both the PKK and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan."
June 4, 2013
Wired - Kim Zetter
"American Gets Targeted by Digital Spy Tool Sold to Foreign Government"
http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2013/06/spy-tool-sold-to-governments/
See also related article: "Turkey's Gulen Movement Linked to Cyber-Attack on US Citizen," David Gilbert,
International Business Times, June 5, 2013
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/474945/20130605/turkey-gulen-movement-implicated-cyber-attack-citizen.htm
(Note: the U.S. citizen referred to in this article as the intended target of this attempted cyber-attack is the C.A.S.I.L.I.P.S. webmaster.)
Wired - Kim Zetter
"American Gets Targeted by Digital Spy Tool Sold to Foreign Government"
http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2013/06/spy-tool-sold-to-governments/
See also related article: "Turkey's Gulen Movement Linked to Cyber-Attack on US Citizen," David Gilbert,
International Business Times, June 5, 2013
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/474945/20130605/turkey-gulen-movement-implicated-cyber-attack-citizen.htm
(Note: the U.S. citizen referred to in this article as the intended target of this attempted cyber-attack is the C.A.S.I.L.I.P.S. webmaster.)
Autumn 2012
Lara Isabel Tuduri Berg, Masters Thesis, University of Oslo
"The Hizmet Movement: A Neo‐Ottoman International Conquest?"
https://www.duo.uio.no/bitstream/handle/10852/35145/Tuduri-Berg_Master.pdf
Most interesting in this thesis is the analysis of how the Gulen Movement in Norway claims to be purely local and unconnected to the Gulen Movement in Turkey, but according to the author this is not so. There are parallels to deceptive Gulenist strategies in other countries, including the US, where Gulenists applying for charter schools claim that they are merely locals who have no connection to any other group.
Lara Isabel Tuduri Berg, Masters Thesis, University of Oslo
"The Hizmet Movement: A Neo‐Ottoman International Conquest?"
https://www.duo.uio.no/bitstream/handle/10852/35145/Tuduri-Berg_Master.pdf
Most interesting in this thesis is the analysis of how the Gulen Movement in Norway claims to be purely local and unconnected to the Gulen Movement in Turkey, but according to the author this is not so. There are parallels to deceptive Gulenist strategies in other countries, including the US, where Gulenists applying for charter schools claim that they are merely locals who have no connection to any other group.
Autumn 2012
City Journal - Claire Berlinski
"Who is Fethullah Gulen: Controversial Muslim preacher, feared Turkish intriguer—and 'inspirer' of the largest charter school network in America"
http://www.city-journal.org/2012/22_4_fethullah-gulen.html
City Journal - Claire Berlinski
"Who is Fethullah Gulen: Controversial Muslim preacher, feared Turkish intriguer—and 'inspirer' of the largest charter school network in America"
http://www.city-journal.org/2012/22_4_fethullah-gulen.html
November 13, 2012
Blog of Pinar Dogan and Dani Rodrik
"Fethullah Gulen on the Clash of Civilizations – then and now"
http://balyozdavasivegercekler.com/2012/11/13/fethullah-gulen-on-the-clash-of-civilizations-then-and-now/
Blog of Pinar Dogan and Dani Rodrik
"Fethullah Gulen on the Clash of Civilizations – then and now"
http://balyozdavasivegercekler.com/2012/11/13/fethullah-gulen-on-the-clash-of-civilizations-then-and-now/
November 5, 2012
Blog of Pinar Dogan and Dani Rodrik
"Fethullah Gulen, the Jews, and hypocrisy"
http://balyozdavasivegercekler.com/2012/11/05/fethullah-gulen-the-jews-and-hypocrisy/
Blog of Pinar Dogan and Dani Rodrik
"Fethullah Gulen, the Jews, and hypocrisy"
http://balyozdavasivegercekler.com/2012/11/05/fethullah-gulen-the-jews-and-hypocrisy/
August 8, 2012
Der Spiegel - Maximilian Popp
Altruistic Society or Sect? The Shadowy World of the Islamic Gulen Movement Part 2: 'You Must Move in the Arteries of the System'
http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/guelen-movement-accused-of-being-a-sect-a-848763-2.html
"The Gulen movement has two sides: One that faces the world and another that hides from it. Its finances are particularly murky. ... 'Anyone who messes with Gulen is destroyed' says the former chief prosecutor."
Der Spiegel - Maximilian Popp
Altruistic Society or Sect? The Shadowy World of the Islamic Gulen Movement Part 2: 'You Must Move in the Arteries of the System'
http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/guelen-movement-accused-of-being-a-sect-a-848763-2.html
"The Gulen movement has two sides: One that faces the world and another that hides from it. Its finances are particularly murky. ... 'Anyone who messes with Gulen is destroyed' says the former chief prosecutor."
May 15, 2012
Majalla - Nicholas Birch
"Turkey’s Biggest Export: The many problems of Fethullah Gulen"
http://www.majalla.com/eng/2012/05/article5523184
Birch notes the Gulen Movement's success at creating a positive impression outside Turkey: "Playing on simplistic western ideas of Sufism as ‘tolerant’ Islam, its leaders have proved adept at marketing it as a moderate alternative to Al-Qaeda and its offshoots." The article explains the growing discomfort with the Ergenekon "investigations" being conducted by part of the Turkish judiciary, partly because they "seemed to turn into a witch-hunt of critics of both the government and the Movement." Birch observes that there is an ongoing reassessment of the Gulen Movement by both the Turkish and the US press: "The New York Times, until recently a fairly unreflective cheerleader of Fethullah Gulen and his educational activities, has recently published two articles criticizing the Movement."
Majalla - Nicholas Birch
"Turkey’s Biggest Export: The many problems of Fethullah Gulen"
http://www.majalla.com/eng/2012/05/article5523184
Birch notes the Gulen Movement's success at creating a positive impression outside Turkey: "Playing on simplistic western ideas of Sufism as ‘tolerant’ Islam, its leaders have proved adept at marketing it as a moderate alternative to Al-Qaeda and its offshoots." The article explains the growing discomfort with the Ergenekon "investigations" being conducted by part of the Turkish judiciary, partly because they "seemed to turn into a witch-hunt of critics of both the government and the Movement." Birch observes that there is an ongoing reassessment of the Gulen Movement by both the Turkish and the US press: "The New York Times, until recently a fairly unreflective cheerleader of Fethullah Gulen and his educational activities, has recently published two articles criticizing the Movement."
March 27, 2012
Washington Post - Valerie Strauss (guest columnist Sharon Higgins)
"Largest charter network in U.S.: Schools tied to Turkey"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/largest-charter-network-in-us-schools-tied-to-turkey/2012/03/23/gIQAoaFzcS_blog.html
Washington Post - Valerie Strauss (guest columnist Sharon Higgins)
"Largest charter network in U.S.: Schools tied to Turkey"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/largest-charter-network-in-us-schools-tied-to-turkey/2012/03/23/gIQAoaFzcS_blog.html
Jan 11, 2012
Foreign Policy - Justin Vela
"Behind Bars in the Deep State: Does a shadowy mullah in Pennsylvania really hold the reins of power in Turkey? If not, then why are the country’s leaders so intent on silencing a single investigative journalist?"
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/node/1135116?page=full
Foreign Policy - Justin Vela
"Behind Bars in the Deep State: Does a shadowy mullah in Pennsylvania really hold the reins of power in Turkey? If not, then why are the country’s leaders so intent on silencing a single investigative journalist?"
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/node/1135116?page=full
November 10, 2010
The New Republic Suzy Hansen
"The Global Imam"
http://www.tnr.com/article/world/magazine/79062/global-turkey-imam-fethullah-gulen
The New Republic Suzy Hansen
"The Global Imam"
http://www.tnr.com/article/world/magazine/79062/global-turkey-imam-fethullah-gulen
July 10, 2009
Hurriyet - Ilhan Tanir
"How do the Gulenists change the rules?"
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=how-do-the-gulenists-change-the-rules-ii--2009-07-10
"For instance, if passing school entry test questions to the movement’s pupils is a justifiable way to ride into any kind of school that is important to attend even it can be done for years, even if it means usurping the rights of other pupils. But again, others are just others."
Hurriyet - Ilhan Tanir
"How do the Gulenists change the rules?"
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=how-do-the-gulenists-change-the-rules-ii--2009-07-10
"For instance, if passing school entry test questions to the movement’s pupils is a justifiable way to ride into any kind of school that is important to attend even it can be done for years, even if it means usurping the rights of other pupils. But again, others are just others."
2009
Berna Arslan, PhD Thesis, University of California Santa Cruz
"Pious Science: The Gulen Community and the Making of a Conservative Modernity in Turkey" (ERIC)
Berna Arslan, PhD Thesis, University of California Santa Cruz
"Pious Science: The Gulen Community and the Making of a Conservative Modernity in Turkey" (ERIC)
2009
Aydin Ozipek, Masters Thesis, Central European University
"'Cultivating' through education: the case of the Gulen Movement"
http://www.etd.ceu.hu/2009/ozipek_aydin.pdf
Aydin Ozipek, Masters Thesis, Central European University
"'Cultivating' through education: the case of the Gulen Movement"
http://www.etd.ceu.hu/2009/ozipek_aydin.pdf
2009
Joshua Hendrik, PhD Thesis, University of California Santa Cruz
"Globalization and Marketized Islam in Turkey: The Case of Fethullah Gulen"
Joshua Hendrik, PhD Thesis, University of California Santa Cruz
"Globalization and Marketized Islam in Turkey: The Case of Fethullah Gulen"
2007
Berna Turam
"Between Islam and the State: the Politics of Engagement" (book)
Stanford. University Press
Berna Turam
"Between Islam and the State: the Politics of Engagement" (book)
Stanford. University Press
2007
Metin Ozer, Masters Thesis, Bosphorus University
"The Gulen Movement: Perceptions of democracy, secularism, religion and public sphere"
http://www.belgeler.com/blg/1cau/the-gulen-movement-perceptions-of-democracy-secularism-religion-and-public-sphere-gulen-hareketi-demokrasi-laiklik-din-ve-kamusal-alan-algilamalari
Metin Ozer, Masters Thesis, Bosphorus University
"The Gulen Movement: Perceptions of democracy, secularism, religion and public sphere"
http://www.belgeler.com/blg/1cau/the-gulen-movement-perceptions-of-democracy-secularism-religion-and-public-sphere-gulen-hareketi-demokrasi-laiklik-din-ve-kamusal-alan-algilamalari
July 6, 2000
The Economist, "Islamic Evangelists"
"Mr Ecevit was unfazed by video cassettes showing Mr Gulen apparently telling people in his inner circle 'patiently and secretly' to infiltrate key positions in the state. A Turkish security court is investigating claims that Mr Gulen is seeking to 'set up an armed group to impose religious rule', a crime punishable by death. Mr Gulen has judiciously gone to the United States 'for medical treatment'.
"Some pretty level-headed Turks think that Mr Gulen's Fetullahcilar are doing remarkably well. 'They are everywhere,' says Necip Hablemitoglu, a historian who has studied them. 'They are in the police, they have judges, and nobody is stopping them.'"
Note: Necip Hablemitoglu, an outspoken critic of the Gulen Movement and Lecturer in history at Ankara University, was murdered two and a half years after this article was published. The case has never been solved.
The Economist, "Islamic Evangelists"
"Mr Ecevit was unfazed by video cassettes showing Mr Gulen apparently telling people in his inner circle 'patiently and secretly' to infiltrate key positions in the state. A Turkish security court is investigating claims that Mr Gulen is seeking to 'set up an armed group to impose religious rule', a crime punishable by death. Mr Gulen has judiciously gone to the United States 'for medical treatment'.
"Some pretty level-headed Turks think that Mr Gulen's Fetullahcilar are doing remarkably well. 'They are everywhere,' says Necip Hablemitoglu, a historian who has studied them. 'They are in the police, they have judges, and nobody is stopping them.'"
Note: Necip Hablemitoglu, an outspoken critic of the Gulen Movement and Lecturer in history at Ankara University, was murdered two and a half years after this article was published. The case has never been solved.