Mysterious Ceremony: Fetullah Gülen’s Funeral Was Buried Quietly and Secretly
The funeral of FETÖ leader Fetullah Gülen, who recently passed away, was held in a secret ceremony with interesting details. Before the ceremony, members of the organization were informed on WhatsApp groups in order not to attract attention. It was learned that the messages said, “Wear a mask, hat and glasses. There will be Turkish press and security. Entry to the stadium will be made with a QR code.”
FETÖ members wore different disguises to hide their faces. Those who attended the ceremony tried to hide their identities with glasses, hats and masks. This situation showed that those who attended the funeral wanted to avoid drawing reaction from the society. In addition, reciting the takbir at the funeral was prohibited. English Bible verses were read instead.
Organization Members Trying to Hide
The efforts of FETÖ members to hide their faces were striking at the ceremony. In addition to the masks, the members of the organization, who were completely unrecognizable with the hats and glasses they wore, even covered their open eyes and camouflaged themselves. This effort reveals that the organization’s funeral ceremony was planned in advance and carried out meticulously so that it would not attract attention.
Ban on the Takbir and Christian Rituals
At Gülen’s funeral ceremony, the recitation of the takbir was prohibited. Instead, a Cardinal took part in the ceremony by reading passages from the Bible in English. The Cardinal, who said, “He sacrificed for us, he was the father of us all,” stated that he wished for Gülen’s legacy to spread throughout the world. Gülen was buried in a coffin in accordance with Christian traditions at his farm in the USA. The pit for his body was dug with a construction machine.
The members of the organization who attended the FETÖ leader’s funeral used a closed pit instead of an open grave during the ceremony, ensuring the highest level of secrecy. The area was covered with giant tarpaulins so that no aerial footage could be taken during Gülen’s burial. These measures are interpreted as an indication that the organization wants to hide the ceremony from the public.
Call to the Ceremony with WhatsApp Messages
It was learned that a call was made to FETÖ’s WhatsApp groups before the funeral ceremony. In these messages, participants were warned to wear masks, glasses and hats. The messages also shared information that the stadium would be entered with a QR code so that the ceremony would not attract attention. Such measures reveal the strict measures taken by FETÖ members to prevent their identities from being revealed even within their own circles.
Funeral Ceremony Held by Reading the Bible
The quotations from the Bible at Gülen’s funeral brought criticism that FETÖ ignored religious values. The fact that no religious rituals were performed during Gülen’s burial, contrary to Muslim traditions, was criticized by the local press. This situation was interpreted as part of the organization’s efforts to develop an interfaith discourse. The organization members were extremely careful to ensure that the people attending the ceremony acted confidentially, and tarpaulins were erected around the area to prevent images that could leak to the press.
The Burial of the Body Was Held in Secrecy
The area where the body would be buried was dug with construction equipment and covered with tarpaulins to protect it from surveillance. During this process, the security of the area was ensured, especially to prevent images from being taken by drones. Such precautions to keep the grave secret showed that the organization developed a self-protective reflex against reactions from society after the death of the FETÖ leader.
The funeral ceremony held at the farm in the USA took place in an atmosphere far removed from Muslim traditions, and the organization members who attended the ceremony made great efforts not to attract attention.
