Patriarch Bartholomew accused of aiding overturn in Turkey
Turkish pro-government media have accused Patriarch Bartholomew of supporting a coup attempt and communication with opposition preacher Fethullah Gulen.
The Turkish magazine Gerçek Hayat, owned by the publishing group of the pro-government newspaper Yeni Safak, placed the publication “Gulenism: Who is the Terrorist Fethullah Gulen? 100 years of the history of a terrorist organization”, in which it accused Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople of his connection with the opposition Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen. It is reported by Euronews.
The last week's publication accuses Patriarch Bartholomew of collaborating with preacher Fethullah Gulen and complicity in organizing a failed overturn in Turkey in July 2016.
Reportedly, the publication was substantiated with relevant photographic materials, including a photo of the Patriarch of Constantinople.
In turn, Patriarch Bartholomew denied the published information, calling the allegations “unrealistic and irresponsible” and saying that the Turkish Orthodox community expresses concern about the persecution of their religious leaders and “false accusations” against them.
As reported by the UOJ, earlier the Turkish National Intelligence Organization MIT accused Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople of his liason with the opposition Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen and the US CIA and warned that his life was threatened. It was stated that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan suspects that Patriarch Bartholomew has friendly relations with the preacher Gulen, and Turkish intelligence agents are constantly monitoring both Bartholomew and his entourage around the world, especially in the United States.
