Fethullah Gulen's lawyer Orhan Erdemli announced allegations that Gulen changed his identity and birth certificate are baseless fabrication.

Erdemli refuted the allegations included in a newly-published book that reads: "Fethullah Gulen applied to Izmir Birth Records Office on January 31, 1986 and changed his name from 'Fetullah' to 'Fethullah.'"

To make this baseless allegation plausible, place, date, and number have been made up, Erdemli said.

Erdemli's statement reads: "My client has never applied to any government office to add the letter 'h' to his name or to make any changes in his name. To change a name, one has to apply to a court, not a government office. This fact alone proves that the allegations are false. One cannot see in these allegations good intentions."

Journalists are obligated to check the accuracy of their news, Erdemli said, "A responsible and objective writer who wants to inform people could easily learn the history of a person's birth certificate. My client has not changed his name; these allegations are of no value."

Erdemli stressed such baseless allegations are made to confuse people, and added:

"Gulen is a Turk who was born and grew up in Anatolia. His lineage could be traced six or eight generations back."

Erdemli recalled that Gulen has been serving people living on these lands at the noblest level, promoting tolerance and dialogue regardless of religion, race and creed.

"We have the right to demand the evidence to support such allegations. My client's birth, and have been known for years."

Share Link: