A stark warning has emerged from one of Turkey's most well-known religious figures, Ahmet Mahmut Ünlü, popularly known as "Cübbeli Ahmet Hoca," who has alleged a dangerous rise of Salafist ideology within the influential İsmailağa religious community. Ünlü, who was recently expelled from the group, has pointed to a disturbing conversation referencing an "8,000-man army" ready to "cleanse the inside," suggesting a militant faction is gaining ground within the traditionally more moderate Sufi order.
The allegations, which have sent shockwaves through religious and political circles, were detailed in a report by the Turkish newspaper Cumhuriyet. The report highlights Ünlü's concerns following a recent meeting between a high-ranking İsmailağa figure, Mahmut Eren, and representatives from Hizb ut-Tahrir. This transnational organization seeks to establish a caliphate and is designated a terrorist organization by Turkey's High Court of Appeals.
The centerpiece of Ünlü's warning is a recorded dialogue he presented to his followers, allegedly between Hasan Yaşar, a teacher affiliated with the community, and a student identified as H. Polat. In the conversation, Polat suggests a violent purge of "Kemalists," stating, "You have an army of 8,000... First, you cleanse the inside. It's straightforward." Instead of rebuking the violent sentiment, Yaşar is quoted as responding, "These are beautiful dreams... but they won't happen immediately," a reply Ünlü claims is evidence of a dangerous radicalization being fostered among the community's youth.
Ünlü's alarm is compounded by the recent activities of Hizb ut-Tahrir's Turkish branch, which operates through the "Köklü Değişim" (Radical Change) magazine. The group has been actively engaging with various hardline and controversial figures across Turkey in an effort to broaden its influence. Their outreach has included meetings with Halis Bayancuk (Ebu Hanzala), known for his links to ISIS and al-Qaeda, and figures associated with the Kurdish Hezbollah. The meeting with Mahmut Eren, who is considered the likely successor to lead the İsmailağa community, is seen as a particularly significant and worrying development.
"What is the difference between this and the ISIS mentality that says, 'We will behead your soldiers and police'?" Ünlü asked his followers, referencing the dialogue. "This place is loudly screaming that it is heading towards Wahhabism (Salafism). This recorded conversation shows us that the mindset of 'cutting and hanging' is present and being instilled in the youth." These revelations raise serious questions about internal power struggles and ideological shifts within one of Turkey's most prominent and most visible religious communities, signaling a potential for future conflict and instability.
Photo: Cumhuriyet