Gülen movement is fake Mahdi, says Turkey’s Religious Directorate head

“FETÖ/PDY cannot be characterized as a religious structure. It is a fake Mahdi movement,” Görmez said Aug. 4.

The followers of the U.S.-based Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen “abuse religion,” Görmez added during a conference on religion.

“We gathered around a single article regarding the concrete steps to be taken after the July 15 bloody coup attempt, carried out by the religion-abusing organization FETÖ/PDY. The titles attributed to the leader of FETÖ/PDY cannot be linked to Islam. That organization is movement of power and interest under the disguise of religion,” he also said, also using the acronym PDY (Parallel State Structure) for the group.

Arguing that FETÖ had become a tool of “dark projects” against Muslims worldwide, Görmez noted that it was “non-ethical.” 

“FETÖ is a non-ethical, secret movement. Their so-called works will be examined by our experts. The works that glorify the leader of this movement should be examined and necessary steps should be taken,” he said. 
During his speech, Görmez also announced that a commission to investigate the “harm that the Gülenists gave to religion” will be formed. 

“The harm that this terrorist organization gave to Islam will be determined and shared with the public,” he also said. 

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan previously called on the Diyanet to “reveal the truth” about the books of the Gülen movement.

“I’ve told our Diyanet head that the Religious Affairs Supreme Council should investigate [Gülen’s] so-called works. There are many statements in those books that don’t fit our religion,” Erdoğan said, adding that a book called “FETÖ’s gallery of sins” should be published by the Diyanet after the examinations.