Report: Erdoğan’s anti-Turkish school rhetoric damages Turkish-African ties


Date posted: March 22, 2015

FERHAN KÖSEOĞLU / YAOUNDE

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s unrelenting denunciation of schools affiliated with the Gülen community and calls for the closure of the schools over the past two years have been harshly criticized in the central African country of Cameroon.

Numerous foreign countries that host Turkish schools affiliated with the Gülen movement, also known as the Hizmet movement, which is inspired by the teachings of US-based Turkish Islamic scholar Fetullah Gülen, have rejected Erdoğan’s message and affirmed that they benefit from the schools.

Erdoğan has repeatedly accused the Gülen movement of plotting to oust him; the movement denies the claim.

New criticism has arisen in Cameroon, which has been host to Turkish schools for the past 12 years. A story by John Dauda in the country’s esteemed newspaper Le Messager strongly condemned the Turkish president, accusing Erdoğan of intervening in the domestic affairs of African countries, and calling it a move that will damage bilateral ties with Turkey.

“Erdoğan, who has been leading a hegemonic and democratic country, cannot behave the way he is, not recognizing laws of the countries that host these schools. Criticizing these educational institutions and calling for their closure is interfering in the internal affairs of the relevant countries,” wrote Dauda.

Mentioning Erdoğan’s previous statements calling for Turkish businessmen to come to African countries and invest in the region’s energy, construction and defense sectors, Dauda said, “However, Erdoğan is not aware of how these schools spread around the African countries [and] are a bridge between Turkish businessmen and the African countries.”

Labeling the smear campaign embarked on by Erdoğan regarding the Turkish schools in Africa “unacceptable,” Dauda said that the African countries’ silence in response is actually the nations’ “reaction to Erdoğan.”

Dauda later said that Erdoğan’s interference in the internal affairs of other countries comes from his desire to silence dissent. “It is a rare case that a president has blatantly criticized the institutions of his own country,” Dauda said, adding that Erdoğan’s behavior is not only appalling to partner countries in the region but is also an attempt to interfere in the affairs of sovereign countries.

The story also says that African countries have respectfully opened their doors to the Turkish schools because of their contribution to education in these countries and that there is demand for more such schools in the region. “Erdoğan has to show a diplomatic approach to these schools,” Dauda said.

Turkish schools have been operating in Cameroon since 2003. Amity (Dostluk) İnternational College has five campuses, two in the capital city of Yaoundé, another two in Ngaoundéré, and one in Douala, which provide a high school education and have helped young Cameroonians bring in scores of international awards.

Source: Today's Zaman , March 20, 2015


Related News

Turkey requests extradition of Fethullah Gülen but not for coup attempt, says US

The US has confirmed it has received a formal extradition request from Ankara for the Turkish cleric Fethullah Gülen, but not over the July coup attempt the Turkish authorities has accused Gülen of orchestrating.

Hizmet and Turkey’s relations with Nigeria

Apart from establishing most successful educational institutions in Nigeria, the Hizmet Movement, which is also referred to as Gulen Movement, has been in the fore-front in propagating modern face of Islam, while at the same time building bridges of peace through interfaith dialogue.

Interview: Professor Greg Barton, counter terrorism expert with Deakin University

Tony Jones speaks with Greg Barton and asks him what is the likely scenario for security in Turkey following President Erdogan’s announcement of a three month state of emergency.

Shahbaz lays foundation stone of Pak-Turk school

LAHORE – Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that Pakistan and Turkey enjoy brotherly and friendly relations and, with efforts of the Punjab government, mutual ties between the two countries are transforming into economic cooperation. He was addressing the foundation-stone laying ceremony of a school under the Pak-Turk International Schools and Colleges System at […]

Teacher gets arrested, wife suffers miscarriage amid gov’t crackdown on Gülen movement

A letter sent Turkey Purge has received from the elder brother –known by the initials A.D.– of an arrested school teacher reveals that those detained within past few years as part of the witch-hunt have been subjected to many kinds of ill-treatment under custody.

Int’l language and culture festival ends with spectacular ceremony in Germany

A message from well-known Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen who inspired the Hizmet Movement was also recited at the ceremony. “At a time when rage, hatred and war prevail in different places of the world, some people see path to science, love and peace as far away. However, as it is said in a Japanese proverb ‘If you have a good friend with you, no way is far to you’, said the message. Gülen also expressed his special thanks to German people for hosting the festival.

Latest News

Fethullah Gülen’s Condolence Message for South African Human Rights Defender Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Hizmet Movement Declares Core Values with Unified Voice

Ankara systematically tortures supporters of Gülen movement, Kurds, Turkey Tribunal rapporteurs say

Erdogan possessed by Pharaoh, Herod, Hitler spirits?

Devious Use of International Organizations to Persecute Dissidents Abroad: The Erdogan Case

A “Controlled Coup”: Erdogan’s Contribution to the Autocrats’ Playbook

Why is Turkey’s Erdogan persecuting the Gulen movement?

Purge-victim man sent back to prison over Gulen links despite stage 4 cancer diagnosis

University refuses admission to woman jailed over Gülen links

In Case You Missed It

Afghan Parents Complain to UN Over Detention of Turkish Teachers

Turkey’s efforts in Somalia

Kimse Yok Mu lends helping hand to 1,650 Somali families during Ramadan

Mothers meet in İstanbul to mark Mother’s Day, see their children

Enes Kanter Education Fund to award students with scholarship

The tragic end of the witch hunt

Bruised by lavish palace, Erdoğan pictures fake Gülen compound

Copyright 2024 Hizmet News