Will the state make peace with the Fethullahists? | Ruşen Çakır and Gökhan Bacık evaluate

Prof. Dr. Gökhan Bacık argued that the state should carry out a similar solution process with the Fethullahists as it did with the PKK. Bacık suggested a political opening for the victims in Türkiye in return for the movement's dissolution of its organizational structure.

Prof. Dr. Gökhan Bacık suggested a similar solution process for the Fethullahists that was initiated with the PKK. Bacık stated that a political solution is possible on this issue.

Bacık’s proposal is based on three basic conditions. First, the community’s dissolution of its current form of organization, as in the PKK example. Second, qualified individuals within the movement taking the initiative. Third, the state signaling that it is open to this process.

"The state has initiated an initiative to solve the PKK problem through political means," said Bacık, emphasizing that this could set a precedent for other issues. Stating that an environment has been created in Türkiye where political solutions can be discussed, Bacık said that this opportunity should be evaluated.

Bacık stated that the community should dissolve its current organizational structure just as the PKK dissolved itself. “In a political solution, the issue of ‘what is right, who is right’ is not addressed,” said Bacık, explaining that a way out should be found according to power relations.

Gökhan Bacık stated that he thought the community management would not take these steps. He listed the reasons for this in five items. He said that the members of the management board were mediocre, that they were not under any responsibility and that they had a harsh ideology.

Bacık, who said, “The top management of the community will not change even if the apocalypse happens,” emphasized that qualified people within the movement should take the initiative for this reason. Bacık stated that this group, consisting of officers, doctors, judges and bureaucrats, should raise their voice.

The article stated that the members of the community abroad established their order over time and entered into “conformism.” Bacık stated that the children of these people went to good schools, had holidays and were in a “no dust stirred up” mentality.

Explaining that there is a big difference between the difficulties experienced by those subjected to Statutory Decrees in Türkiye and those experienced by those abroad, Bacık said that this situation affects the motivation for a political solution.

Bacık emphasized that the state should express that there could be a political opening regarding the community. Bacık said, “Harsh politics towards the KHK decree holders in Türkiye is the primary source of legitimacy for the community’s top management,” and added that this cycle should be broken.

Bacık, who said that the masses who have been living under oppression for over 10 years are in “hopelessness” about the Republic of Turkey, stated that the state must shake this perception. Stating that unilateral steps can be taken, the author emphasized the importance of turning to partial solutions.

Bacık, who said, “Some circles in Türkiye, including the AKP, may see the opening towards the community as unnecessary,” said that the “total quality” principle of the business should be remembered. The academic, who stated that the pain in the smallest organ affects everyone, expressed that it would be beneficial for every segment of society to remove the community problem from being a “bleeding wound.”

Bacık emphasized that the community’s base is “patriotic” and “a product of standard Anatolian culture.” The author stated that this segment never had any intention of taking over the state, and reminded of the importance of forgiveness within the framework of Islamic values.

In his interview with Ruşen Çakır, Bacık explained his ideas in more detail. In response to the criticism that Erdoğan was doing politics based on his need for enemies, he said that this method would no longer work.

Bacık, who said, “In Erdogan’s strategy to go to power, internal and external threats were a thing of the past,” indicated that it would be more useful to go to power with different methods at the moment. Bacık stated that a social opening, the discourse of “including everyone”, could be more useful.

In response to criticism that the community issue was a minor issue, Bacık said that this affected issues such as democratization and the rule of law in Türkiye, adding, “Even if this issue is minor, things such as democratization and social peace in Türkiye will not have been finalized.”

Bacık stated that religious orders and communities in Türkiye are structures that act on Erdoğan's back. "Erdoğan's autonomy against them is one hundred percent," said Bacık, adding that the voting rate of religious orders is very misunderstood.

Bacık, who said, “The general Turkish public does not like religious sects,” stated that they are seen as structures that withdraw into themselves and pursue their own interests. Bacık stated that these structures are a “source of human resources” for the AKP, but they are not a major source of votes.

Stating that the layers within the movement became clearer after the death of Fethullah Gülen, Bacık said that there were distinctions between the leadership cadre's staff, the faithful and those who wavered. Emphasizing the difference between those inside and outside, the academic stated that those in Turkey were the ones paying the real price.

Bacık said that most of those outside have established their business and that the ones who are under Statutory Decree in Türkiye want to make peace in the real sense. However, the author stated that the demand should come from here and that an approach like “forgive us, let’s make peace” should be taken.