Wrestling with free speech, religious freedom, and democracy in Turkey : the political trials and times of Fethullah Gülen / James C. Harrington ; [forward by Michael E. Tigar].

Includes bibliographical references (pages [155]-162) and index.

A painful prosecution, but ultimately a step forward -- Fethullah Gülen and the "movement" -- Turkey's history, culture, religion and politics : setting the background for the trial -- The European Union helps extend democracy in Turkey -- Turkey's courts : fair, independent, and impartial? -- Turkey's problematic press, media, and law of defamation -- Prelude to prosecution : a vicious media campaign -- The prosecution and trial of Fethullah Gülen -- The trial court delivers its judgment -- The appeals : preserving the acquittal -- Gülen's immigration case in the United States : intersection of U.S. government and Turkey's military? -- Final thoughts.

The political trial of Fethullah Gülen, a moderate Turkish religious leader, helped to greatly expand civil liberties and strengthen democracy in Turkey. The trial began in 2000 in an Ankara state security court (now disbanded) and ended in 2008 in an appeals court in Gülen's favor. This book explores Gülen's trial, examines the evolving process of Turkey's efforts to enter the European Union, and discusses ways that the EU's insistence on expanding civil liberties in Turkey and reforming the judicial system affected the outcome of the trial (and vice versa). As a coda, the book considers unsuccessful efforts to block Gülen's application for immigrant status in the United States as a religious scholar, which occurred during the same time as his political trial in Turkey.