Forget about the gentleman living in Pennsylvania, US tells Ankara


Date posted: April 1, 2014

WASHINGTON

Turkey should stop discussing “the gentlemen in Pennsylvania” and instead focus on other important issues as a NATO ally, the U.S. State Department said, regarding U.S.-based Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen.

Asked if the United States was more in line with Gülen’s position on Turkey than Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan over the issues of the Twitter ban and corruption allegations, spokeswoman Marie Harf said: “Well, that’s ridiculous. Regardless of whether this gentleman was living in Pennsylvania or not, it would still not be okay for the government of Turkey to ban Twitter. It would still not be okay for the government of Turkey to crack down like they have on dissent. Those things have nothing to do with the fact that one of their citizens is living in the Pennsylvania countryside.”

Harf said Turkey was a close NATO ally of the U.S. “We don’t always agree on everything, but we don’t agree on everything with anyone. So forget about the gentleman living in Pennsylvania. We have a bilateral alliance with the government of Turkey. We will speak out when we disagree. We will speak out when we agree. And it’s really up to the people of Turkey to make decisions about their government. It’s not up to us, and any reports that we have any impact on that are just crazy.”

Source: Hurriyet Daily , April 1, 2014

Tags: | |


Related News

Gülen condemns ISIL atrocities in ads in leading US newspapers

In the ads, which appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, the Chicago Tribune and the Los Angeles Times, Gülen said the actions of ISIL — referred to in the ad as ISIS, another name it goes by — are a “disgrace to the faith they proclaim and crimes against humanity.”

Int’l students delight Washington in language festival

Cheers and laughter dominated Washington’s landmark Warner Theater on Tuesday as dozens of talented international students delighted guests with songs and dances, highlighting diversity with their dazzling variety of clothes and songs.

Ramadan Fast Highlights Shared Religious Practices

As part of the month-long celebration of Ramadan, the Turkish Cultural Center (TCC) of Queens hosted its annual interfaith Ramadan Iftar Dinner July 24 at the Woodhaven Manor. Throughout history, many of the disputes have been based on religious ideologies. By bringing all the faiths together at the Iftar dinner, members of different religions could understand that similarities, like fasting, do exist.

Peace Islands Institute Massachusetts Fifth Annual Friendship and Awards Dinner

The Peace Islands Institute Massachusetts branch held its “Fifth Annual Friendship & Awards Dinner.” Dr. Jon Pahl – Professor at the Department of History of Christianity from Temple University – delivered the keynote speech. The recipients of this year’s awards were Senate President Therese Murray, Tom Ashbrook, host of NPR’s On Point, and Muhammad Zaman, an associate professor of biomedical engineering at Boston University.

U.S. Judge Tosses Suit Against Reclusive Muslim Cleric

Turkey’s government funded the civil suit against Fethullah Gulen as part of a crackdown on the cleric and his movement by PresidentRecep Erdogan. A federal judge on Wednesday dismissed a lawsuit alleging that a reclusive Muslim cleric in Pennsylvania orchestrated human rights abuses in his native Turkey, ruling the claims didn’t belong in U.S. courts.

Yes, Love Is a Verb!

Because of his [Fethullah Gulen] influence…at risk children are now being educated in hundreds of countries…The sick are being treated…..and the starving are fed….often at great personal risk..

Latest News

Fethullah Gulen – man of education, peace and dialogue – passes away

Fethullah Gülen’s Condolence Message for South African Human Rights Defender Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Hizmet Movement Declares Core Values with Unified Voice

Ankara systematically tortures supporters of Gülen movement, Kurds, Turkey Tribunal rapporteurs say

Erdogan possessed by Pharaoh, Herod, Hitler spirits?

Devious Use of International Organizations to Persecute Dissidents Abroad: The Erdogan Case

A “Controlled Coup”: Erdogan’s Contribution to the Autocrats’ Playbook

Why is Turkey’s Erdogan persecuting the Gulen movement?

Purge-victim man sent back to prison over Gulen links despite stage 4 cancer diagnosis

In Case You Missed It

Fethullah Gülen expresses thanks for condolences extended after brother’s death

Erdogan possessed by Pharaoh, Herod, Hitler spirits?

Doesn’t Obama know Gülen is in the US?

Gulen Schools Fight Provokes New Tensions in Bosnia

Conference on Prophet’s thoughts on ideal society held in Sarajevo

İpek Holding chairman denies reports about alleged mansion for Gülen

Ethiopian President receives Ethio-Turkish schools delegation

Copyright 2025 Insightful Neighbor