Question:
On 2016/12/19, a security officer in the Turkish capital shot and killed the Russian ambassador to Turkey. This was seen live on air while the ambassador was delivering a speech at an art gallery in Ankara. Subsequently, the Turkish government stated that Gulen was behind the operation. How accurate is this accusation? What was the motive for this operation? May Allah reward you with goodness.
Answer:
To clarify the answer, the following points must be reviewed:
First: The Reality of What Happened:
What happened in Aleppo recently is a tragedy that befell the Muslims, sufficient to stir their feelings, inflame their emotions, and drive them to take action in response to what occurred. The betrayal of Erdogan, the ruler of Turkey, has become apparent in executing the conspiracy woven by America—the primary enemy of Islam and Muslims—alongside the crimes committed by its servant Russia, the tyrant Bashar al-Assad and his clique, and with the participation of the hands of treachery and betrayal from Iran, its party in Lebanon, and its followers.
The policeman shouted Islamic slogans after killing the Russian ambassador. He said in Arabic: "We are those who pledged allegiance to Muhammad for Jihad as long as we live," and said in Turkish: "Do not forget Aleppo, do not forget Syria, Allahu Akbar," repeating it more than once. This indicates he was affected by what recently happened in Aleppo and what is happening in Syria in general against its Muslim people. He said: ("Every person who has a hand in this oppression [that occurred in Aleppo and Syria] will pay the price..." and added "As long as our lands are not in safety, you too will not taste it"...) (News Agencies, 2016/12/19). It is as if he was directing a message to America, Russia, their allies, and followers... those who destroyed Syria and assaulted the lands of the Muslims, telling them that their crimes will not be erased from the memory of the Ummah, and by Allah's permission, their promised day will come to them.
It is strange that the authorities did not arrest him but rather proceeded to kill him. It appears this was intentional, as the tyrants feared that if he were arrested and brought to trial, he would continue to shout slogans related to Aleppo, Syria, and the abandonment of Aleppo by the rulers, especially Erdogan. This would cause embarrassment to Erdogan, who abandoned Aleppo; thus, it is not ruled out that orders came from him to kill this policeman so Erdogan could rid himself of embarrassments and repercussions. The opportunity to arrest him was available, as security forces stormed the place in large numbers, even if the gunman said, "You cannot take me alive," to show his determination and lack of fear. Accordingly, the Anadolu Agency reported on 2016/12/21 that: "Prosecutors have taken over the investigation into why the special forces who stormed the art gallery did not arrest the policeman Mevlüt Altıntaş while he was alive, but instead assassinated him." Erdogan was embarrassed by the failure to arrest him and defended the security forces killing him, saying: "There are speculations about why he was not caught alive. Look at what happened in Beşiktaş when they tried to capture one of the attackers alive..." However, this incident does not resemble the Beşiktaş incident. Here, it appears the policeman acted alone, shouting Islamic slogans against a representative of a hostile state, namely Russia, which kills Muslims day and night in Syria and destroys their country to protect the system of Kufr (disbelief) and the head of the regime, the tyrant Bashar. What happened in Aleppo stirred all the feelings of Muslims, hence his chants and Takbirs... Meanwhile, the Beşiktaş operation was the work of a secular, nationalist Kurdish separatist organization that has no relation to Islam or its goals, and its motives are far from Islam, having political ties linked to colonial states. Mentioning one with the other is a matter of shuffling cards; no argument is established by it except a refuted one that exposes its author rather than covering him!
Second: Reactions to the Event:
The killing of the Russian ambassador upset America, which utilizes Russia to implement its projects in Syria. America is in full agreement with Russia and coordinates with it in every action. Its Secretary of State John Kerry condemned it, saying: (The United States condemns the assassination of Russian Ambassador Andrei Karlov in Ankara today...) (Reuters, 2016/12/19), describing it as a "despicable attack." He announced that: "His country is ready to help Russia and Turkey in investigating the attack." State Department spokesman Kirby said: "We condemn this act of violence, whatever its source; our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family." Similarly, the White House spokesperson, the US Department of Defense, and the presidential team of President-elect Trump condemned the killing of the Russian ambassador. Thus, America and Russia are on the same page.
Erdogan, who is loyal to America and allied with Russia at its behest, does not want his relations with Russia to be affected. We have seen how he worked to settle the issue of the downed Russian plane and apologized to the Russians. He revealed the extent of the betrayal he committed by deceiving the rebels and removing them from Aleppo to implement the American plan in agreement with the enemy of Allah, Putin, last August. Putin himself revealed this and exposed his ally Erdogan so as not to let him parade with false heroism and fake bravado... even though Erdogan flattered and humbled himself before Putin during their meeting in Petersburg last August, describing Putin as a close ally and friend! The day after the killing of the Russian ambassador, Erdogan announced that he had agreed with his Russian counterpart Putin to continue cooperation, including on the Syrian file, despite the killing of the Russian ambassador. He said: (We share President Putin's view that our cooperation with Russia in various fields, especially regarding Syria, should not be obstructed by this attack...) (Al-Jazeera, 2016/12/20). His Foreign Minister Cavusoglu said during his meeting with his Russian counterpart Lavrov in Moscow: "Turkey and Russia will continue cooperation until a political solution is reached in Syria and other regions," considering the killing of the ambassador as an act "to damage bilateral relations." Putin described the operation as a "provocation aimed at undermining the normalization of Russian-Turkish relations and the peace process in Syria." Peskov, the spokesman for the Russian President, announced that: "The presidents of the two countries agreed to form a joint committee to investigate the attack." Thus, we see that the Turkish and Russian sides were united in their opinion on the incident and expressed their determination to continue working together to strike the Syrian revolution under the name of the "peace process" in Syria or a "peaceful solution." The foreign ministers of Turkey, Russia, and Iran held a meeting the day after the killing of the Russian ambassador to confirm this, as they also emphasized maintaining the secular system in Syria, as stated in their declaration.
Likewise, Europe is against the Syrian revolution and against the return of Islam to governance in Syria. It has followed America and approved the maintenance of the secular system in Syria and the implementation of a political solution there when it participated in the Vienna Conference on 2015/11/14. It also agreed to the Security Council resolutions related to that alongside America and Russia. All Europe wants is to have a role in the Syrian affair and the political process and not to be isolated internationally. Europe, like America and Russia, is hostile to Islam and Muslims and fights the return of Islam to governance. Therefore, the EU Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini denounced the assassination, saying: (I was deeply shocked by this incomprehensible attack...) (Al-Jazeera Net, 2016/12/20). Similarly, the British Ambassador to the UN, Matthew Rycroft, expressed his regret over the killing of the Russian ambassador in Turkey, expressing (his country's readiness to cooperate with Moscow in fighting terrorism inside and outside Syria...) (Al-Jazeera Net, 2016/12/20). Comments were also issued by British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson (who described the attack as cowardly and treacherous) (Russia Today website, 2016/12/20).
In Germany, the government condemned the assassination of the Russian ambassador. Steffen Seibert, spokesman for Chancellor Angela Merkel, said in a tweet on Monday evening: (The assassination is very sad news, "and the German government condemns this senseless act in the strongest terms"...) (Al-Jazeera Net, 2016/12/20). As for French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, he said: (Nothing justifies violence and terrorism, expressing his sincere condolences to the ambassador's family and his support for Russia and Turkey...) (Al-Jazeera Net, 2016/12/20).
- As for Erdogan's accusation against the Fethullah Gulen group, it is incorrect. Erdogan stated on 2016/12/21: (There is no doubt that the gunman who killed the Russian ambassador in Ankara was a member of the Fethullah Gulen terrorist network... all links from his education to his connections point to the Gulen terrorist network...) (Reuters, 2016/12/21). Such an accusation is not new; the Turkish state under Erdogan's leadership has consistently accused this group of every act to cover up the truth. It accused them of the coup to cover up its liquidation of the agents of the English who plotted the failed coup attempt on July 15th. Gulen condemned the killing of the ambassador, as quoted by Alp Aslandogan, the movement's spokesman, saying: (Mr. Gulen completely condemns this act [the killing of the Russian ambassador] and described it as "heinous" and called the Turkish government's accusation of his group being behind the killing "laughable"...) (Reuters, 2016/12/20).
This is despite knowing that this group, headed by its leader Gulen, has no protective jealousy for Islam and Muslims. It justified the Jewish entity's brutal attack on the Marmara ship and the killing of 10 Turkish Muslims. This group allies with the Jews and considers them believers like themselves, while it does not ally with Muslims nor support their causes, nor does it adopt or support any Islamic cause. It is against the project of the Islamic Khilafah (Caliphate), mocks it, and has fought those working for it. It was a partner to Erdogan until the end of 2013, then differed with him due to competition over serving American interests... It is an agent for America like Erdogan and works for America's account, adopting democracy, secularism, and American projects just like Erdogan and his party. Therefore, it does not support a Muslim nor is it jealous for the interests of Muslims or their causes; it is far removed from being behind an act against the colonialist Kuffar (disbelievers)... Even Russia did not accuse them; Peskov, the spokesman for the Russian President, said: (It is premature to determine who is responsible for the assassination of the ambassador, in response to Turkish statements accusing the Gulen group of the operation. He said the assassination is certainly a blow to Turkey's prestige...) (Russia Today, 2016/12/21), which led Erdogan to take revenge on the policeman and his family, issuing orders to arrest his father, mother, sister, and other relatives and friends totaling 13 people, then Erdogan contacted the Russian President and offered his condolences...!
Third: The Motive Behind the Operation:
By reviewing the above regarding the reality of what happened and the reactions from various parties... it becomes clear that this policeman performed the act alone, without a link to any organization, as an act of revenge for Russia's brutal crimes in Syria and driven by Islamic emotions. We do not purify anyone before Allah. May Allah have mercy on him and grant his family patience, and:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الصَّابِرِينَ
"Indeed, Allah is with the patient." (QS. Al-Baqarah [2]: 153)
We ask Allah, the Almighty, the Wise, to relieve the distress of the Muslims and grant them victory by establishing their Khilafah, which will give every colonialist disbeliever, every arrogant tyrant, and every wicked hypocrite the punishment they deserve—one that scatters those behind them—and will bring victory to every oppressed person and comfort every bereaved one.
وَيَوْمَئِذٍ يَفْرَحُ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ * بِنَصْرِ اللَّهِ يَنصُرُ مَن يَشَاء وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الرَّحِيمُ
"And on that day the believers will rejoice in the victory of Allah. He gives victory to whom He wills, and He is the Exalted in Might, the Merciful." (QS. Ar-Rum [30]: 4-5)
26th of Rabi’ al-Awwal 1438 AH
2016/12/25 CE