AKP lacks Gülenists' PR skills

"Gülen schools are the best educational institutions in certain countries. There have never been complaints about them. In addition, Gülenists have been preaching for peace, interfaith dialogue and respect for non-Muslim minorities. And they have never resorted to violence. How can we call them terrorists all of a sudden?" is a question I come across in Western circles.

Indeed, some of the Gülenists I had come to know always impressed me with their language stills, moderate rhetoric and soft-spoken manners. In a world terrorized by Islamist radicals, Gülenists' very convincing portrayal of themselves as the moderate face of Islam came as music to the ears.

And that too shows the professionalism in their strategy.

The outside world is only now beginning to see the violent and dark side of Gülenists. We in Turkey however experienced their "terror" long before the failed coup. One may call it "psychological terror." 

They stage managed the Ergenekon, Sledgehammer and other sham trials which sent thousands of soldiers and civilians (including journalists) to jail. They were involved in evidence fabrication, illegal wiretapping and smear campaigns via their media outlets (Gülen media used to say journalists were not in jail because of journalism. Today, even those who have been the target of Gülenists say those journalists who worked in the Gülen media outlets should be set free unless there was clear cut evidence proving their involvement in the coup).

Many people in civil service were harassed, subjected to mobbing and forced to quit.

Back then, the outside world did not want to see the dark face of Gülenists, assuming that those trials would weaken the old establishment, the role of the military in civilian life and...