In the ongoing row between Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and Gulenists entrenched in the state, a major Gulenist accusation against AKP leaders is that they are pro-Iranian and even Iranian agents. Fethullah Gulen's chilly attitude toward Iran and Shiites is well-known in Turkey. While supposedly seeking rapprochement with Christians and Jews in interfaith dialogue, Gulen has never reached out to the Shiites, the other major sect of Islam.

The Gulenist chill toward Shiites has grown into an open enmity over the past three years. Iran, the leader of the Shiite world, is the chief object of Gulenist hatred, which often borders on absurdity and fantasy. Let’s see some of the many examples.

A news report, aired recently on the Gulenists’ flagship TV channel Samanyolu, openly targeted the Iranian people, seeking to sow discord and hatred between nations. The report, agitating Sunni Turks against Shiites, featured a person who was described as an ayatollah showering insults on the Caliph Umar. Presenting the remarks of an obscure person, allegedly an ayatollah, as the view of the whole Iranian nation, the channel offered a good illustration of how Gulenists regard Iran and Shiites.

The alleged ayatollah shown in the Samanyolu report makes the following remarks: “Most Shiites are concentrated around Iran. Why? Because Umar Al-Khattab humbled and humiliated the Iranians. It was not a small thing, Umar put an end to a whole empire — the steadfast, invincible Persian Empire. And what do we say? That Arab Bedouin came riding on camels and crushed the empire. They outdid even Alexander the Great. Alexander the Great managed to rattle Iran, but had to retreat in a few months, leaving Iran alone with its religion. But what did the Arabs do to the Iranians? They smashed even Kisra’s crown with their swords, and gave everyone a piece. Then, they killed the notables. Would such a hatred disappear in a few years? No, it wouldn’t. That hatred would not disappear even if hundreds of years pass. Hence, Iranian Shiites’ greatest enemy is neither Khalid ibn al-Walid nor Abu Bakr, but Umar. Umar is accursed forever. Why? What else was Umar accused of? He was accused of breaking Zahra’s rib. They even garnished this story with religious ornaments.”