ISTANBUL (AP) - A vast corruption scandal could damage Turkeys powerful leader in a way that anti-government protests which brought thousands into the streets this summer failed to do. This time, many Turks believe it all comes down to one man: a U.S.-based spiritual leader who the West extols as a model of moderate Islam and who some Turks see as a sinister puppet master. Turkish investigators this week launched early morning raids that targeted close allies of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan _ including the sons of three cabinet ministers as well as key business leaders and civil servants _ amid revelations of illicit money transfers to Iran and large-scale bribery for construction projects. In a country where conspiracy theories are legion, Turks take it as an article of fact that the raid was orchestrated by Fetullah Gulen, part of an epic power struggle with Erdogan, a leader once considered unassailable. The evidence for that is tenuous and Gulen has denied any involvement in the investigations.
Reported by MyNorthwest.com 2 days ago.
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