Hurriyet daily news Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has harshly criticized Islamic scholar Fethullan Gülen during a rally in the Anatolian province of Isparta, calling on him to stop causing a ruckus Turkey and return to his homeland.
“If you are honest and true, stop discombobulating the country. If this is your country, come back.” Erdoğan said March 2, adding he was pure in heart when he once believed Gülen was an honest man.
“There are pure people who gave their money, land and potential [to the movement]. They built schools and dormitories,” he said. “I was pure at heart. I did what I could do, too yani. I thought he was genuine when I read his books. He sent me rosary, but no pineapples.”
Erdoğan also accused Gülen of supporting the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP).
The Turkish government will not surrender to any blackmailing gang, Erdoğan said, accusing those who wiretapped politicians, journalists and businessmen of blackmailing and threatening.
The prime minister targeted the CHP and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), saying the two parties were soul mates.
“They put their heads together and were trying to harm the AKP with montaged records, because they could not manage it at ballot boxes.
The AKP has come into power with the support of the nation, not with some tapes and will leave in the same way, Erdoğan added.