Newly surfaced footage shows Turkish minister kissing hands of religious cult leader, causes uproar

A newly surfaced footage showing Justice Minister Abdülhamit Gül kissing the hands of a religious cult leader has stirred debate, with many urging the government to quit its relations with cults. While the minister said that the footage is from a time that he wasn't a lawmaker, the issue was slammed in parliament by the main opposition CHP. "Haven't we learned a lesson?" the party's Group Deputy Chair Özgür Özel asked the minister.

Duvar English

A newly surfaced footage showing Turkish Justice Minister Abdülhamit Gül kissing the hands of a religious cult leader has caused uproar on social media, with many slamming the government over its relations with religious groups.

The undated footage shows Gül bowing down and kissing the hands of the Syria-based Haznevi cult leader, whose name wasn't disclosed in Turkish media outlets, after he makes a speech during an event organized by the cult in the southeastern province of Antep.

The controversial video was shared by Hasan Şencan, a municipal council member of Antep's Şahinbey district from the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), who urged the government to quit its relations with religious cults.

"The so-called leader of Haznevi cult gives a speech and this country's justice minister kisses his hands when he gets off stage. Shame on you," Şencan tweeted on Dec. 19, adding that the "reactionary cult" made Antep its base.

"Is it preparing the basis for a new FETÖ structuring?" Şencan asked, referring to what the government calls the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization - the movement of the U.S.-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gülen, an ally-turned-foe of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Gülenists are widely believed to have been behind the 2016 attempted takeover that caused the deaths of over 250 people.

Gülenist infiltration into the state had been criticized for years by the opposition due to the group using state state apparatus for its own benefits. The botched coup of July 15, 2016 is seen as a result of this infiltration.

While Turkish authorities launched a wide-scale crackdown on Gülenists following the attempted coup, new religious groups are seen to be infiltrating into the state through occupying positions once held by Gülenists.

Following the uproar on social media, Minister Gül was asked about his relationship with the cult leader in parliament on Dec. 19.

"It was an event that we attended when I believe I wasn't a lawmaker even. It was before June 7, 2015 elections," Gül told parliament, adding that he attended the event as part of the election campaigns of his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).

CHP Group Deputy Chair Özgür Özel, in return, said that the footage is unacceptable.

"I should remind Mr. Minister that it's a cult and not a non-governmental organization. It's a horrible footage," Özel said, while slamming the fact that a lesson wasn't learned with the failed coup bid.

"Haven't we learned a lesson? Will we start struggling against these groups when they attempt a coup? It's very dangerous that you give them what they want," he added.