AK Parti government vs. Gulen Movement relations

Abstract

The ruling Turkish Justice and Development Party (AK Parti) is often called Islamist or Islamic-rooted, since their accession to power in 2002, they have enjoyed the support of the majority of the Muslim communities of the country. These pious brotherhoods normally have a spiritual agenda and do not interfere with the political sphere. Unlike other groups, the Gulen Movement tried to establish close links with the political elite and later on to introduce their own elements into the democratic arena. Gulen, the founding preacher of the community named after him, created a large network of schools, dormitories and cultural venues and positioned his followers in important positions of the civil service. This „state in the state” parallel structure became more and more uncomfortable for the AK Parti government and decided to uproot it by closing down the Gulenist schools, Gulen’s main source of revenue and centers of indoctrination. Operations from both sides have been common since the 17th December, 2013 when key government figures were put under arrest by Gulenist prosecutors. It is clear that after this conflict Gulenist distanced themselves from the Justice and Development Party, but political analysts are still unaware of their current political affiliation. Keywords: movement, government, religion, politics