turkish → English transcript

So now you call it Laikdüzü's democracy. I said on this national channel: that "democracy, democracy" you keep talking about

I said, this is what will finish the state, the "existential issue" you talk about.

"How so?" he said. I said, "Because, here's why."

I said, when they reach 51%.

In an election, whatever the people want will happen.

And the guy in power now

I want a federal system.

Well, "I want division."

A referendum saying, "I want this."

Or, under these governments, people who share their views

if elected

will make laws accordingly, will pass statutes accordingly.

What will you do?

Are you going to stage a coup--with a coup?

Are you going to save it?

You keep staging coups.

You stage coups; how can you talk about democracy?

I mean, it's such a warped system that

this democracy

is this state's existential issue.

It's a very philosophical statement; I'm saying this from the proper philosophical angle.

If you insist on elections

Elections aren't against Islam

I mean, through elections

to come to power

You know, our master Hazrat Uthman also

our master Hazrat Umar

left the choice to a six-member Shura

Our master Hazrat Uthman emerged from that Shura; Hazrat Umar did not appoint him

Hazrat Abu Bakr appointed Hazrat Umar

Therefore, regarding the election system,

I'm not saying it is against Islam

But in this warped structure,

handing a man a certificate of clearance,

making him a member of parliament,

making him a mayor,

and then you

Well, after he becomes a member of parliament

or after he becomes mayor, something comes up

I'll explain that to everyone myself

I too, within the Cumhur İttifakı,

am in the position of defender

I'm in the position of defender, but

to be able to defend,

they need to put some things in my hands as data, as evidence

so they'll say, "The Hoca is showing a very democratic attitude in this matter"

So how am I being democratic now, then?

He says democracy is in trouble.

After issuing the clearance.

Look, I'm saying this: if he has done something new

That would be

considered reasonable by everyone.

If you're going to bring up old things,

they should already have shown up in your GBT background check.

If you're finding this today,

you would have already found it during the candidacy application.

This shouldn't be done—why?

The state's credibility is being shaken.

Its integrity is being shaken.

They say the law is being sacrificed to politics, they say.

They say this decision is political, not legal; it’s a shame for so many prosecutors and judges.

It’s a shame for the Court of Cassation and for everywhere else.

The Constitutional Court is being put in a bind.

So, is there any need for this much trouble?

Whoever issued this clearance

should be on trial right now.

So then, I mean.

It’s a long process, sir—you've now given him the clearance, and now you say 12 years ago

he attended a terrorist's funeral.

Is it a crime? It's a crime.

He shouldn’t have taken part; participation is a crime.

A man like that cannot be a candidate.

As I understand it, if this is like this

I’m not saying anything, but now you

If we go on like this

Tomorrow, 51 as well

When they also reach 51, those who want to divide the state, I’m not saying the Kurds, look, don’t misunderstand

God forbid, I’d sacrifice myself for the Kurds; I love the Kurds very much.

Now, the Kurds are not in that mindset.

I have loads of Kurds.

Most of the congregation are Kurds.

We talk with all of them.

So, I also speak with Kurdish representatives.

I mean, the Büyükseydahlar have 50,000, 100,000 disciples.

In the East, all of them, the scholars, come to me; I go, too.

So they don’t hold such a view.

They say, “What business do we have here? We are here.”

They say, “We are something”; they defend this indivisible unity.

So, therefore

I’m saying, there are some people here

If they get it to 51

State system, partition system, whatever.

I ask, what will you do about it--what measure?

We'll stage a coup.

So, is that the thing to do now?

It isn't.

And then a civil war.

What's the need to fight with the people?

So, at this exact point, do we have it?