Ishak Alaton: Gulen the ultimate 'other'
You have allocated a whole section in your book to the Hizmet movement, with a lot of positive remarks about Fethullah Gulen and the movement. What kind of reactions have you received?
Almost 90 percent of the reactions were congratulations. You hear the least expected things from the least expected person.
Do you mean his identity as a prominent religious figure?
You could say so. Look, I am an “other” and I have expressed this for my entire life. Last week, The Economist magazine wrote about me as the “other,” quoting me when I said to Professor Jenny White from the US three years ago that “this society never made me feel that I belong to it.” This is harsh, but a reality. President Abdullah Gül invited me to Çankaya Palace in Ankara to promote my first book and I addressed 600 people there. After my conference, I saw Hayrünnisa Gül, his wife, and told her that so many people listen to me and give me accolades here and eventually I am an “other.” She responded to me by saying “you are wrong Mr İshak, since I am the real ‘other' here. I haven't appeared in public for the two years since I moved in here due to the headscarf I am wearing.” Those who are not the “others” must think twice to find out why this society has disintegrated so much. I believe things will get better after the generation of those who claim on TV screens that Turks will resist granting Kurds equal rights disappear.
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Almost 90 percent of the reactions were congratulations. You hear the least expected things from the least expected person.
Do you mean his identity as a prominent religious figure?
You could say so. Look, I am an “other” and I have expressed this for my entire life. Last week, The Economist magazine wrote about me as the “other,” quoting me when I said to Professor Jenny White from the US three years ago that “this society never made me feel that I belong to it.” This is harsh, but a reality. President Abdullah Gül invited me to Çankaya Palace in Ankara to promote my first book and I addressed 600 people there. After my conference, I saw Hayrünnisa Gül, his wife, and told her that so many people listen to me and give me accolades here and eventually I am an “other.” She responded to me by saying “you are wrong Mr İshak, since I am the real ‘other' here. I haven't appeared in public for the two years since I moved in here due to the headscarf I am wearing.” Those who are not the “others” must think twice to find out why this society has disintegrated so much. I believe things will get better after the generation of those who claim on TV screens that Turks will resist granting Kurds equal rights disappear.
Read more...