Following Gulen’s death on October 20, 2024, the pro-government media constantly exploited hate speech to dehumanize and demonize him and his supporters, taking inspiration from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s inflammatory statements. To silence moderate views and make anti-Gulen hate speech the prevailing public discourse, the administration also launched a wave of censorship at the same time. “The Erdogan government has been systematically and strategically attempting to spread hate speech against the Gulen movement,” stated Dr. Merve R. Kayıkcı, research director at SCF. “It became a national scapegoat by delegitimizing and marginalizing a mainstream religious and social group.”
The systematic attack on Gulen’s movement exposed
The measured and impartial tone of Western media, which acknowledged unsubstantiated accusations against Gulen while highlighting his worldwide significance and support for education and interfaith dialogue, was drastically different from Turkish media’s coverage. The wide-ranging effects of media narratives in influencing public opinion are highlighted by this striking disparity in coverage. Even when it has directly affected their own friends or family, many people in Turkey choose to ignore the widespread arbitrary incarceration, abuse, and unfair trials perpetrated on movement members due to the country’s enduring atmosphere of hatred and dehumanization. Such hate speech creates a poisonous atmosphere that fuels social instability, violence, and prejudice. It undermines the foundations of diverse and inclusive communities by degrading people and groups, fostering an “us versus them” mentality that can have disastrous results. The persecution of the Gülen movement, which has been referred to be a crime against humanity, is a prime example of the perilous connection between hate speech and atrocity crimes. Upholding human rights and averting additional harm require addressing and opposing such degrading speech.
Hate speech escalates following Gulen’s passing
With an emphasis on Turkey, SCF is a non-profit advocacy group that works to advance democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. Committed to being a reference source by offering a complete viewpoint on rights abuses in Turkey, SCF keeps an eye on everyday events, records specific instances of fundamental rights violations, and releases in-depth reports on human rights-related topics. The majority of private television networks and print media are owned by businesses with strong ties to the government, which is evident in the news stories they cover. In Turkey, authorities frequently force the removal of critical content and prosecute journalists, most harshly under the country’s Anti-Terror Law. Independent media primarily operate online. At least 65 media professionals and journalists were serving prison terms or in pretrial imprisonment for terrorism-related offenses at the time of writing due to their media affiliations or journalistic activities.
New findings reveal dehumanization tactics
Since the government’s decision to withdraw “further weakens protections for women,” the UN Committee for the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) has urged it to change its mind. The UN special rapporteur on violence against women stated during a visit to Turkey that withdrawal from the convention “emboldened perpetrators” and raised the danger of violence against women in addition to weakening protections. Over the previous six years, there have been few successful investigations into or prosecutions of those responsible for allegations of torture and mistreatment in police custody and prison. Overcrowding in removal centers, where foreign people, including migrants and asylum seekers, are subject to administrative custody pending deportation procedures, and frequent reports of mistreatment, including severe beatings and harsh, inhuman, and degrading treatment, are also common.
Post-Gulen death speech targets his followers
Similar incidents have occurred in Istanbul. Before being fired in 2013 for his involvement in the two FETO-related investigations against many politicians and government officials, Mithat Aynacı served as the head of police in Istanbul. Aynacı was discovered in one of the tanks en route to Istanbul police headquarters. In one video, Aynacı is shown getting into the tank while dressed as a military officer, and in another, he is seen being dragged violently out of it. Hate speech shows the dark side of Gulen and its reputation in the field. By using these words, a strong criticism was noted in Turkey. The people of Turkey are very disappointed in the government, which is not speaking in their rights. Additionally, the hundreds of people who are planning documents and their appendices were tainted with numerous physical impossibilities and anachronisms that indicated their false provenance. The president of Turkey is now taking notice of all this mess.