Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan has put down the uprising against his government relentlessly. But now back from his party faithful from him. The followers of the controversial exiled preacher Fethullah Gülen put themselves in position.

You have not overthrown the Prime Minister, it is the hundreds of thousands of demonstrators in Istanbul also failed to keep busy on Taksim Square in the city center Gezi Park. The street protests against the government of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who had inflamed the end of May to the proposed logging of Gezi parks are abated. And yet, could extend the impact of the revolt far over the summer.

For a long time members and supporters of the Muslim conservative AK Party government held back criticism. But now for the first time contact ACP faithful against the Prime Minister. Erdogan’s competitors use the post-Gezi riots, to distance themselves from the Premier.

The columnist Yavuz Baydar compared to the English edition of the pro-government newspaper “Zaman” that Turkey under Erdogan recently with the U.S. at times McCarthy. The Muslim-conservative journalist and writer Foundation warns that developments in Turkey overshadowed attempts of democratization.

Remarkably especially the sender is to this criticism: Both the “Zaman” as well as journalists and writers foundation to be of Turkish preacher Fethullah Gülen community counted, which is said to have enormous influence within the Turkish government.

Gülen has been living in self-imposed exile in the United States. Turkey has left the venerable Imam after he accused the prosecutor to prepare an Islamist revolution. His followers in 140 countries founded schools, a bank, media houses, hospitals.

To the outside the church is modern. Their following grows in Turkey, especially poorer families praise Gülen’s commitment to education, entrepreneurs appreciate the pro-business policies. However, dropouts reported in of brainwashing and cult-like structures. U.S. diplomats describe the Gülen community in the diplomatic cables published by WikiLeaks as “the most powerful Islamist group” in Turkey. They “controlled key economic, trade and media companies and the political scene has infiltrated deep, the AKP included at the highest level.”

The AKP as a reservoir for various currents

The AKP is a melting pot for different currents. Besides a number of splinter groups, particularly the followers and supporters of Erdogan’s standing there against the Gülen movement. After the electoral victory of the AKP in 2002 the two camps have formed a strategic partnership: Gülen secures the AKP vote, Erdogan protects the community.

In recent months, however, the alliance began to crumble. Erdogan has dismissed key judicial officials and party officials, where close to Gulen was assumed their posts. The community the Prime Minister was apparently too influential. As a result of the power struggle Gezi revolt breaks out openly now. “I do not think that Turkey is doing what is in their ways,” Fethullah Gülen said in a recent interview with the U.S. magazine “The Atlantic”.

“The community follows a hierarchical order”

Environment Erdogan from is reversed shot against Gülen specifically related companies. The “Zaman” writes from a “lynch campaign”. “It is sad to see that this hostile criticism levied by groups that we considered to be friends,” it said in a statement. After all, published last week, the journalist and writer Foundation a statement in which they tried to defuse the scolding of Erdogan.

The conflict within the party is for Erdogan dangerous than the street demonstrations. Cleavage of the AKP could mean the end of political Islam in Turkey. Ideological differences play only a minor role. It is the Gülen group has more to offices and privileges. They used “fashionable concepts such as dialogue and tolerance,” said Mustafa Sen, a sociologist at the prestigious Middle East Technical University in Ankara, “but the community follows an extremely strict and hierarchical order.”

Ahmet Sik, one of the most respected journalists in Turkey, was planning to bring out a book about the dangerous power of the Gülen community in spring 2011. Shortly before the release, he was arrested, his publishing house was raided by security officials confiscated manuscripts of the book with the title “Army of the Imam.” The author is accused of being part of a terrorist organization that staged a coup against the government of Erdogan.

A new AKP government – without Erdogan

“It is true that the Gülen movement for formation begins,” said Sik. “But why does this network control the state, why are justice, armed forces and intelligence controlled by, why not submit those so powerful organization open their finances?” Sik says he is not convinced of the sincerity of this network. “In truth, it’s about to come to power, not through elections but by gradually undermining the institutions.” Their goal, he believes, is a new AKP government – only without Erdogan. New strong man could be President Abdullah Gul, who is assigned to the Gülen wing and is considered intra-party opponent Erdogan.

“In their struggle to be the hegemonic power, discourages the movement will stop at nothing,” says Hakan Yavuz, a political scientist at the University of Utah. “They terrorize people.” Gareth Jenkins, an expert on Turkey, Central Asia-Caucasus Institute, is convinced that the Ergenekon investigation, which ended last week with some draconian sentences were essentially controlled by Gulen supporters in the police and judiciary.

Few observers believe therefore, Gülen near top politicians might actually be a democratic alternative to Erdogan. “They want to control the state and tolerate no opposition,” says journalist Sik. He was released from prison after massive international protests at first, but the process is still running against him. Sik expects a conviction: “The judiciary is currently showing hardness compared to all critics, protesters, alleged conspirators,” he says. “Why should they spare me?”

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