On Jan. 20, 2014, I wrote a column with the title “Welcome to the mukhabarat state.” We have now reached the point at which words fail.
Let’s read an excerpt from that column: “The one-party state, just like a mukhabarat [an Arabic term for a country’s intelligence agency], eliminates all rival powers that may direct or impact it in order to become the single power in a country. And this is what MİT is doing to the Hizmet movement. As seen in [an official] document published on Friday, MİT has ordered its branches to finish off Hizmet and other religious groups. MİT now stands above all other institutions of Turkey, as well as the judicial and legislative branches. The MİT undersecretary and deputy prime ministers are stronger than the entire Cabinet. With the subordination of the judiciary, the transformation to a one-party state will soon be complete. And MİT will become the mukhabarat of Turkey. All critics, opponents, intellectuals, civil society groups and religious groups will become targets of MİT.”
New Constitution should have no barriers to mother tongue education
11 March 2012 / BÜŞRA ERDAL, ABANT The 26th meeting of the Abant Platform, which discussed problematic areas of the constitutional drafting process, suggested in its final declaration on Sunday regarding education being given in languages other than Turkish — one of the most contentious issues that needs to be addressed in the new constitution […]
İstanbul Transportation Authority cancels bus line to Fatih University
Amid growing examples of discrimination against the Hizmet movement, the İstanbul Transportation Authority (İETT) canceled one bus line to Fatih University, which is considered to be affiliated with the Hizmet movement. An official from İETT, İsmihan Şimşek talked to Today’s Zaman and admitted that the 76F bus line had been canceled, but dismissed the idea that the decision deliberately targeted Fatih University. According to her, following analysis of demand for bus services in the region, the 76F bus line was discontinued while two other lines, HT18 and 418, continue to run with stops at Fatih University.
Evolution of the Gulen [Hizmet] Movement
HizmetNews.COM November 14, 2012 Members of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) gathered in Washington DC for a follow up discussion on the Gulen Movement on October 19, 2012. The group’s director Dr. Bulent Aliriza hosted the discussion… and said that the Gulen movement, perhaps more than any other in overall Turkish picture, […]
İstanbul municipality tears down part of school in midnight operation
The İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality sent teams in the early hours of Tuesday morning to the private Fatih College in the Merter neighborhood to demolish the wall of the school as well as a security cabin in the school’s courtyard.
Turkey Faces Its Iran 1979 Moment
Turkey is at a pivotal point in its history following the failed coup attempt of July 15. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, having survived the coup plot, won fresh legitimacy and gained a new ally: religious fervor in the streets. Mr. Erdogan can use this impetus either to become an executive-style president, or he can encourage the forces of religion to take over the country, crowning himself as an Islamic leader.
Interview with Kimse Yok Mu Foundation’s President Ismail Cingoz
Kimse Yok Mu Foundation (KYM) President Ismail Cingoz spoke on Turkey’s helping hand extending to the world: “We involve approximately 10 thousand volunteers in our efforts. We have 97 thousand families that we have been consistently providing aid for. We are active in 103 countries regardless of their ethnicity, language, faith or color.” We talked […]
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
Gülen: purge of public officials seems ‘arbitrary’
Pro-gov’t journo says Gülen followers were abducted, illegally questioned by Turkey’s intelligence agency
GYV says arrest warrant for Gülen motivated by upcoming election
8-year-old cancer patient denied passport due to father’s alleged links to Turkey’s Gülen group
Erdoğan gov’t abusing regulatory agencies to punish opponents
Too Good to Be True
Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan Reject Turkish Calls to Close Gülen Schools
