Interesting claim from İsmailağa! 'Our community is a structure accredited by the state'
The leadership struggle that began within the İsmailağa community following the death of Hasan Kılıç shows no signs of ending. Most recently, the community, responding to questions from journalists, pointed to their recognition by the state, stating, "Our community is a structure accredited by the state."
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Hürriyet columnist Nedim Şener shared notes in his column today from a meeting held at the İsmailağa Mosque in Fatih.
THEY CLAIMED TO BE A "RELIABLE STRUCTURE"
In response to the question, "Are you organizing within the state?" the community stated that "they have absolutely not engaged in any organization within the state, neither in terms of lifestyle nor objectives."
"ACCREDITED AND RELIABLE"
Muhammed Fatih Ustaosmanoğlu, the grandson of Mahmut Ustaosmanoğlu, stated that the İsmailağa community is considered a "reliable" structure by the state in terms of its activities and noted the following:
"The İsmailağa community is a structure that has been accredited by the state; in other words, it has established reliability in the eyes of the state. It is clear, have no doubt about this. You can ask this anywhere. This is true for us as a family and as a structure; it does not harbor such things within itself anyway. The painful, fabricated news stories in the press or things that devalue society are actually signs that the conflict between the Naqshbandi and Bektashi continues. Other than that, those who accuse us of FETÖ-ism and publish propaganda claiming that this structure has been corrupted are actually engaging in reverse perception management. Those who protect the traditional structure are the ones who will ensure Turkey's security. Apart from that, leaving the community to form certain structures under the guise of deputyship is actually becoming a community outside of the tariqa."
"WE HAVE A VERY LARGE CADRE OF HOCAS"
It is known that Turkey will go through difficult processes in the coming period. It is the conscientious elements that will keep these structures standing. We do not have a hierarchical structure. In dervish lodges, there is a circle gathered around the sheikh efendi. Higher-level relationships are those of foundations and associations.
İsmailağa is caught between modern society and tradition. İsmailağa is a structure consisting of many circles; there is a structure raised at the core of the lodge, there are the brethren, the tradesmen brethren, we have a very large cadre of hocas, our women's side, which makes up the majority of our community, is a mystery, there are politicians, but they are from the outside, and there are those who are active in the international arena. Their emotional ties are purely conscientious.
"WE NEVER SAID WE HAVE A CONFLICT WITH THE STATE"
It is a complex structure, but its formation is Mahmut Efendi's advice. The absence of commercial structures and school-like activities is a manifestation of this. Because these create perceptions in the eyes of the state, that is why we proceed as a civil entity. Therefore, we are extremely loyal to our state, our nation, our soldiers, and our police. We are on the field whenever the state is in need, including during earthquakes. Even on February 28, we were the lodge that suffered the most and gave 2 martyrs, but even then, we did not go to the media to disclose this. We never said we have a conflict with the state.”
In response to the question, "Do you think there are sects and communities settled within the state?" Abdullah Kılıç, the son of the late sheikh Hasan Kılıç, replied without naming names, "Of course there are, but we are not among them."