The original interview was published in German on Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, a famous daily newspaper in Germany.
The Turkish preacher Fethullah Gülen has
been living in the United States for 13 years now. An extensive network
of supporters has developed there, serving in projects under his name.
There is no sign on the road to indicate the exit and the dirt track
which leads you through a foggy broadleaf forest, coloured in all the
shades of autumn, to an estate with eight houses.
Thirteen years ago, the most influential preacher of Turkish Islam
Fethullah Gülen retreated to this secluded place. Back then, the still
powerful military had driven him out of Turkey. Stricken with illnesses,
he decided to undergo surgery in American hospitals. Since then, he has
rarely left the estate despite being issued a visa and a residence
permit by the United States.
