Fethullah Gulen

“My position on democracy is really clear. Any attempt to overthrow the country is a betrayal to our unity and is treason.”

“If I were to say anything to people I may say people should vote for those who are respectful to democracy, rule of law, who get on well with people.”

“I have always been against coups, and I cursed them.”

“Turkey initiated true multiparty elections in 1950 to join NATO. As a requirement of its membership, NATO can and should demand that Turkey honor its commitment to the alliance's democratic norms.”

“If somebody who appears to be a Hizmet sympathizer has been involved in an attempted coup, he betrays my ideals.”

“We invite our friends who hold high positions in the legislative branch of government and state institutions to master the skills of administration, so they could, when the time comes, reform the Turkish state and make it more fruitful at all its levels in the name of Islam.”

“Erdogan thinks if he gets rid of me, he thinks ending me will end the movement. He couldn't be more wrong.”

“I have spent over 50 years preaching and teaching the values of peace, mutual respect and altruism.”

“The lesser jihad is our active fulfillment of Islam's commands and duties.”

“I feel the pain of people who suffer in my own neurons and sometimes cannot even watch TV. It is impossible not to be worried. But I trust that however cruel treatment they receive, Hizmet sympathizers will continue to respect to the law and will remain peaceful.”

“We are mortals, we will die one day.”

“Even if, at the helm of the country there are people who would like to replace me and suppress me and oppress me at the level of blood-sucking vampires, then I do not want to remove them with anti-democratic means. This is my attitude toward any and even the idea of the consideration of a military coup.”

“The greater jihad is proclaiming war on our ego's destructive and negative emotions and thoughts... which prevent us from attaining perfection.”

“I don't see a bright future for Turkey. It pains me. But I have some hope, I pray for it to be better. It is a blessed country, a NATO member, and was an E.U. candidate. These were things we wanted.”