"Adnan Menderes is a champion of religion; he has performed great services for religion and will perform (more). But he won't see the fruits of this that he wishes. I too have performed services for religion, I can't conceal it, and like Adnan Bey, I also won't see the results. The fruits of both will become apparent in the future."

• Bediuzzaman's Support for the Baghdad Pact and CENTO

It is in the light of this `positive' attitude towards the Democrats of Bediuzzaman and the Risale-i Nur movement, and in those often difficult and hostile conditions their always aiming to draw them with advice and guidance towards further, more far-reaching measures favouring Islam and religion that Bediuzzaman's letter of support for the Baghdad Pact should be seen. Indeed, this method of service enabled the movement to emerge as a significant force within the country, although the Risale-i Nur Students themselves did not participate in politics. Also Bediuzzaman's support for the Pact shows his support of Turkey and the Islamic countries joining the Western alliance against the threat of communism, as is mentioned the Introduction to this chapter.
The Baghdad Pact was firstly signed in February, 1955, between Turkey and Iraq, and was subsequently joined by Pakistan, Iran, and Britain. In connection with this agreement Bediuzzaman wrote a letter of congratulationsı to Menderes and the President, Celâl Bayar, applauding the move as a necessary first step towards securing peace in the area, and as someone who had studied its problems for some fifty- five years, he pointed out the two solutions he had found.
Bediuzzaman supported Turkey's agreement with Iraq and the other Muslim countries in the Baghdad Pact primarily because it realigned her with the Islamic world and was a step towards re-establishing close relations between 'Turkey and the Arab world, which had been virtually non-existent since the collapse of the Ottoman Empire after the First World War. Islamic Unity of a non-political nature was a source of strength for Turkey, particularly