I believe that Turkey can come out of the national and international depression with these lofty ideas. I wish God's mercy on our great personality, reverend Erbakan. May his soul rest in peace, may his place be heaven. Be neighbors to the Ahlul Bayt. We will always remember our teacher with respect and we will continue to tell him to generations.
I met with Prof. Dr. Necmettin Erbakan Hodja in 1974 when he was the deputy prime minister. Before the March 12 Coup, I was active in the fields of social, political, mysticism, art and culture as the generation of 1968.
The 12 March Junta had closed the National Order (Milli Nizam) Party of Erbakan Hodja and the Workers' Party of Turkey (TİP). All my works have been banned. And many lawsuits have been filed against me. Because of this, I had to go abroad. I returned after the 1974 general amnesty. I visited Prime Minister Ecevit. I also visited Deputy Prime Minister Erbakan Hodja in his office in the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM).
Our great friendship that started with the Hodja at that time continued until he passed away. Erbakan Hodja, also intervened in the Menderes period and offered suggestions for the development of the economy throughout the country.
He expressed his opinion on Turkey's opening to the world on the same issues as Süleyman Demirel who became prime minister in 1968. He stated that North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and other blocs harmed Turkey and separated his ways with Süleyman Demirel and established his own party. Both our economic views and our world views matched with Erbakan Hodja. In all our meetings with Mr. Erbakan, we agreed on fundamental human rights, the right to live freely, freedom of thought, freedom of religion and conscience, respect for the universe and differences created by Almighty Allah, love and equal practice, and the dominance of reason and science.
After the September 12 Coup, I conveyed my best wishes to Erbakan Hodja. Erbakan Hodja has been one of the biggest and foremost targets of the junta that brought to the head of Turkey as a project by imperialism. In addition, scientists, writers, illustrators, poets and the Alawite society were targeted.
The Welfare (Refah) Party, which came out strong in the local government elections in 1994, stated the following with the instruction sent by Erbakan Hodja to the mayors; “Our Alawite brothers have been ostracized and constantly oppressed by the system. I personally want you to give them the best assignments.” This message took place as headlines in many major newspapers.
Erbakan Hodja, in his speeches, said, “All differences are right, it is the main duty of the state for each difference to live their own rights and freedoms freely. It is a sin and the greatest crime against humanity to discriminate against people. Because Allah has created all human beings with the same common values. These values are reason, science, love, justice, right, law, high morality, ingenuity and spirituality. The core values of all beliefs are the same. If Humans knew these facts correctly, there would be no fights, no wars, no racism, no human discrimination.”
“World Ahlul Bayt Foundation is a chance for our country and humanity. In its work and services, it ensures both meeting people's common values and embracing the basic values of beliefs. True friends of the Ahlul Bayt have never taken the side of oppression and imperialism. I express that we love Fermani Altun, whom I love very much, dear friend of the Ahlul Bayt family, who devoted his whole life to this sacred service and is respected by all segments. All the people who have devoted their lives to service for the truth, scholars, parents and thinkers are all blessed. Their numbers are few, but they are strong as light. May our Almighty Allah increase their number. It is the oppressors and the ignorant people used by them who disturb the world order,” Erbakan added.
The Union and Brotherhood Feast, which was prepared jointly by many organizations in Cologne, Germany, in Europe, was held in a large stadium attended by hundreds of thousands. We were invited with Erbakan Hodja as a speaker. Erbakan attended the Unity and Brotherhood Feast held in a gym in the Netherlands in the same way. We attended with the Hodja.
When Erbakan Hodja was prime minister, when I called, an appointment was made on the same day if I was in Ankara, and the next day if I was in Istanbul. When some Alawite organizations make an appointment and visit the prime minister, the first question Erbakan Hodja asks is "What do you think about Fermani Altun?" The position was determined according to the answer given. Derbank owner Derviş Temel said to them when they visited Erbakan Hodja with a delegation of Alawite businessmen; Erbakan Hodja asked Derviş Temel “How is your dialogue with Fermani Altun?” he answered, “He is our versatile leader. We consult him in every field when necessary.” Erbakan Hodja was very happy with the answer he heard and did not leave without eating.
At the meeting where I invited Erbakan Hodja, Sakıp Sabancı and representatives of many organizations such as important businessmen, the chairman of the chamber of commerce, the chairman of the chamber of industry at the Siwiss Hotel in Istanbul before he became the government, I said, “The best politician in Turkey who knows the widespread economic development and foreign expansion correctly is Erbakan Hodja as I see. And it must be tried." Only three people out of 25 stated that they did not agree with my opinion. Others said they agreed with me.
When the February 28 incident occurred, the unjust reaction against the Erbakan Hodja government was undoubtedly projected at the center of Imperialism. We fought actively against this project at the front. And we sided with Erbakan Hodja. While Erbakan Hodja was working on alliances with some parties, the parties that would join the alliance were looking for me. When I told the teacher about the numbers they wanted, he did not offend me and accepted. The imperialism center and its extensions were breaking the alliance by making extraordinary efforts to prevent Erbakan Hodja from appearing.
The presidential council of the Virtue (Fazilet) Party, which was founded in 1999 instead of the Welfare (Refah) Party, convened on the eve of the election, and it was decided that I would be the first deputy candidate in Istanbul. The next day, Deputy Chairman Abdullah Gül and Recai Kutan had made a statement to the press: "We will go to Fermani Altun for the candidacy of parliament". Deputy Chairman Abdulkadir Aksu, Deputy Chairman Nevzat Yalçıntaş and Ali Çoşkun visited my office in Ankara. They said the greetings of Erbakan Hodja. I stated that I do not think about politics. After that, Erbakan Hodja called: “You are a wise friend who is loved by everyone, as a respected and educated person who is the most important for the unity and solidarity of Turkey; You are needed for unity and brotherhood in order to overcome Turkey's economic, social, political and international problems," he said.
He also stated the following in one of our meetings: “Imperialism; impoverishes, makes ignorant, segregates and overpopulates a country in order to subdue it. It constantly monitors what they use as a subcontractor. They try to keep powerful people like you, who are against them, ineffective. My advice to you is never to believe in political forces that are the project of imperialism, they are vile people. Imperialism chooses people whom will be the servant of the door according to them; It ensures that the manipulative, the selfish, and the flatterers are chosen” he added.
In all our conversations, he was evaluating what will happen to the world because of imperialism in the future by revealing books and resources in various countries. For example, he stated that imperialism would cause great atrocities in many geographies such as Syria, Libya and Yemen, that they were using terrorist groups, and that they would use the political forces that were their own project in these countries. Over time, these predictions and intuitions of his appeared in the same way. Our conversations with him would take at least an hour and a half or two. He would definitely come his own or send a representative to all our meetings. All mayors attended. As the mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB), Ali Müfit Gürtuna showed great favor to the World Ahlul Bayt Foundation and to myself. Erbakan Hodja appointed Prof. Dr. Nevzat Yalçıntaş for the allocation of a place to our foundation from the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. Ali Müfit Gürtuna as Metropolitan Municipality Mayor, made a great effort in this regard. He attended all our meetings.
Once, we had a commemoration program for Hacı Bektaş-ı Veli at Istanbul Ataköy Holiday in Hotel. We knew that Erbakan Hodja was sick, we had duly sent an invitation. Hodja arrived early in the morning of the meeting by road from Altınoluk until morning. We were sitting in the hotel lobby with the Minister of Interior Abdulkadir Aksu. When I saw the Hodja, I said, “You were tired and sick, why did you bother to come in this state?” Hodja said, “O blessed man. I will come again if you call me to the other end of the world."
I visited Erbakan Hodja while he was under house arrest in Altınoluk. While I was trying to console that great leader, he gave me advice. Erbakan Hodja; “Gendarme above me, I am under house arrest. The oppressors always do their oppression. But truths live on throughout history. Take care of yourself. Because you, as a wise person, are the target of terror and self-seeking forces used by imperialism. You have come to the point in half a century you have come to very wisely, I hope you will go more carefully and in a better way from now on, I always pray for you,” he said. And I said this to the Hodja. If you look at history, all scholars, parents, thinkers, and all blessed people of Allah have suffered in front of cruelty and ignorance. As in his holiness Ali's aphorism is, "The more you serve God for humanity, the more your friends will increase, and your enemies will increase to the same extent. Your majesty will be measured not only by the number of your friends, but also by the number of your enemies.” It would not fit on pages to describe all the details of our conversations with Erbakan Hodja. Erbakan Hodja will be given a wider and more detailed place in my future book.
All of Erbakan's friends, who truly loved him, both in his life and after he passed away, never spared their love, respect and support to us. All of them said, “You are Hodja's favorite thing is what he left us. You are his memory”. By the order of the imperialist powers, after February 28, he was at the doors of the courts, the prosecutor's office and forensic medicine. He faced all kinds of traps in order not to go out on the field. These events affected Erbakan Hodja deeply. Because it is a bitter reality that these hardships have to be taken by those who come to the authorities thanks to him. I visited him while he was under house arrest in Altınoluk. We chatted for two and a half hours. A great sadness came over me. But when we think about it in a historical dimension, these have always happened in politics and are still happening.
Hodja and I had the same ideas and thoughts on every issue such as politics, economy, human rights, justice, civilization, equality and freedoms. I believe that Turkey can come out of the national and international depression with these lofty ideas.
I wish God's mercy on our great personality, our respected teacher Erbakan. May his soul rest in peace, may his place be heaven. Be neighbors to the Ahlul Bayt. We will always respectfully remember our Hodja and continue to tell generations.
Fermani ALTUN
President of the World Ahlul Beyt Foundation