Fethullah Gulen Warned Against Incitement

“What our nation should do is avoid being antagonized by those who use the saddening and ugly occurrences for their dirty purposes. Our nation should not support thoughts and movements that will cause us to lose our gains in the fields of human rights and democracy” cautioned M. Fethullah Gulen

in his statement of condolence regarding the recent escalation in terrorist activities in Turkey. Mr. Gulen emphasized the desperate need for common sense against blatant incitement of terror.

The recent terrorist attacks, killing 17 Turkish citizens in less than a week, have aroused public anger once again. Thus, M. Fethullah Gulen timely stressed that to increase tension in society and to cause exasperation would serve the terrorists and their accomplices.

Fethullah Gulen also conveyed his condolences to the families of the martyrs, to the veterans and to the Turkish Armed Forces: “The news about the sons of our motherland who were martyred or wounded in the recent successive terrorist acts is scorching our hearts. I convey my condolences, first to the grieving families of our martyrs and the veterans, and then also to the Turkish Armed Forces [TSK] and other security forces as well as to all our people. These terrorist attacks are nothing but a renewal of the dirty tricks that were staged many times in the past, too. Terrorism that hurts the entire society actually aims to darken our future and to distance our country from democracy and human rights. Like they did in the past, the wicked circles engage in their bloody tricks every time our country takes a step to reach world standards in human rights, to become a developed democracy and to improve its rule of law. Though it is a reality that the dark incidents which recently took place are upsetting and concern all of us, it is a must that proposals for a solution to this problem be in a form that does not serve the interests of those who planned these dark incidents. Our people, who have been hurt by coups and emergency rule as much as they have been hurt by terrorism, will give the best response to the traitors with messages of common sense, friendship and brotherhood. What our nation should do is avoid being antagonized by those who use the saddening and ugly occurrences for their dirty purposes. Our nation should not support thoughts and movements that will cause us to lose our gains in the fields of human rights and democracy. We should take a common stance against terrorism without heeding political, religious or ethnic differences amongst us. We should present a picture of unity and togetherness, one that says we will not bow to wicked circles. What should be done is that we should contribute with common sense to the peaceful coexistence of our people in the atmosphere of unity and togetherness and to raise our democracy to the highest possible level”  said Mr. Gulen.