Fethullah Gülen’s statement regarding the family that drowned in the Meric (Evros) River

M. Fethullah Gulen
M. Fethullah Gulen


Date posted: February 16, 2018

Fethullah Gülen

With tremendous sadness, I have learned that a mother and her two children lost their lives in the Meriç (Evros) River while fleeing Turkey in order to escape persecution by tyrants in their home country.

With tremendous sadness, I have learned that members of two families lost their lives in the Meriç River while fleeing Turkey in order to escape persecution by tyrants in their home country.

The unprecedented witch-hunt in Turkey continues and leaves innocent citizens with no opportunity to continue their lives with dignity. Citizens who have never caused harm to others are forced to leave or risk human rights violations at the hands of the Turkish government, which has been condemned by all human rights watchdogs, including the United Nations rapporteurs.

The international community should closely evaluate why these innocent people are fleeing Turkey and putting their lives at risk, and it must warn the Turkish government to restore legal order in the country and to protect basic human rights.

May God Almighty bless members of the Abdurrezzak and Dogan families who lost their lives with the highest level of Heaven. I pray to God Almighty to help find those who are missing as soon as possible and to help our brother Fatih Yasar recover quickly. May He ease the pain of those who are left behind and give them patience and strength. And may He save our blessed country and innocent citizens from the cruelty of the oppressor.

– February 15, 2018


Related News

3 dead, 5 missing in attempt to escape Turkey’s post-coup crackdown


 

Source: Alliance for Shared Values , February 15, 2018


Related News

PM Sipilä and FM Soini of Finland: Turkey needs to return to a path that respects human rights

Prime Minister Juha Sipilä and Foreign Minister Timo Soini [of Finland] have responded to a letter from the Finnish Union of Journalists. The Union’s missive asked the ministers to urge Turkey to avoid extreme measures in the aftermath of July’s failed coup.

Erdogan’s critics in Germany living in fear of his long arm

When Ercan Karakoyun goes to a restaurant in Kreuzberg or Neukölln, Berlin’s boroughs with a large migrant population, he never sits with his back to the door. When he leaves, he looks left and right before exiting, to make sure no one is waiting for him. He also stopped visiting Turkish mosques, fearing an attack.

Hizmet schools win 64 out of 120 TÜBİTAK medals despite gov’t pressure

İstanbul’s Fatih Koleji, Ankara’s Samanyolu and Atlantik Schools and İzmir’s Yamanlar Schools, which have been put under pressure by the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government, picked up 64 medals out of 120 on Wednesday in the 22nd National Science Olympiad and the 19th National Mathematics Olympiad for primary and secondary schools.

PM made the wrong choice

Erdoğan put under the spotlight US Ambassador to Turkey Francis Ricciardone by stating: “Recently, very strangely, ambassadors have gotten involved in some provocative acts. I am calling on them from here to do your job. If you leave your area of duty, this could extend into our government’s area of jurisdiction. We do not have to keep you in our country.” These caustic sentences prove that the AK Party has decided to declare a war not only against the Hizmet movement but also to provoke tensions with the US. Since they have opted for a defensive attack strategy, this reaction does not surprise anyone.

International Panel: The Virgin Mary in the Holy Books [in Istanbul]

Turkey Catholic Communities, Roma Tevere Instituto and the Intercultural Dialogue Platform (IDP) are organizing an international meeting, which will be held to study how the Virgin Mary has been approached in the holy texts, both in Christianity and Islam. The panel will be held on November 1-2, 2013 at the WOW İstanbul Convention Center, Turkey

State discrimination against Hizmet movement sympathizers

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government is aiming to take all steps to finish off Hizmet movement sympathizers by any means. Discrimination is one of these steps. Discrimination is a human rights violation. I would like to share five of my personal experiences, of many more, to show what kind of discrimination is being committed against the movement’s sympathizers.

Latest News

Turkish inmate jailed over alleged Gülen links dies of heart attack in prison

Message of Condemnation and Condolences for Mass Shooting at Bondi Beach, Sydney

Media executive Hidayet Karaca marks 11th year in prison over alleged links to Gülen movement

ECtHR faults Turkey for convictions of 2,420 applicants over Gülen links in follow-up to 2023 judgment

New Book Exposes Erdoğan’s “Civil Death Project” Targeting the Hizmet Movement

European Human Rights Treaty Faces Legal And Political Tests

ECtHR rejects Turkey’s appeal, clearing path for retrials in Gülen-linked cases

Erdoğan’s Civil Death Project’ : The ‘politicide’ spanning more than a decade

Fethullah Gülen’s Vision and the Purpose of Hizmet

In Case You Missed It

GYV praised for response to accusations about Hizmet movement

Fethullah Gülen’s Message of Condolences in the Wake of the Western European Floods

Turkey’s recent view from the US

Former US Ambassador David Newton praises Gülen

Cambodian education minister: I’m proud of Turkish school students

Canadian Journal Interviews Erdogan’s Victims in Greece: Fleeing oppression in Turkey

KYM Ramadan Aid for Ugandan Police Department

Copyright 2026 Hizmet News