Gov’t bid to close Turkish schools draws ire

The Senegalese students are holding flags in front of their school (Photo: Sunday's Zaman)
The Senegalese students are holding flags in front of their school (Photo: Sunday's Zaman)


Date posted: April 9, 2014

ANKARA

Many from various circles, including intellectuals and academics, have leveled harsh criticism against Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s government’s attempts to shut down Turkish schools abroad affiliated with the Hizmet movement, which is inspired by the teachings of Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen.

 

Turkish politicians have increasingly been voicing their concerns over the closure of such schools, which provide an education to thousands of students abroad, saying the move is personally motivated and unwise.

Taraf columnist and Armenian activist Hayko Bağdat said no state should intervene or shut down an institution which is established with people’s own capital and belongs to religious or political groups.

“Also, it is ridiculous to try to shut down schools in other countries. If these institutions are carrying out illegal activities that would lead to an emergence of security vulnerabilities, you should prove it or disclose it. Therefore, this is a backward attempt which is totally based on revenge,” said Bağdat.

Esat Kıratlıoğlu, a former minister from the True Path Party (DYP), also voiced his concerns over the government’s attempts to shut down Turkish schools abroad, saying “even the thought of closing down schools is completely wrong.”

The faith-based Hizmet movement administers a wide network of schools and more than 2,000 educational establishments in more than 120 countries around the world. These schools provide education to thousands of students and are well known for their achievements in the International Science Olympiads.

The attempt to shut down the schools comes at a time when the Hizmet movement is being subjected to a smear campaign by the government, whose prime minister and many high-level officials are implicated in a sweeping corruption scandal that became public on Dec. 17, 2013.

Kıratlıoğlu stated that Erdoğan has created the term “parallel structure” in reference to the faith-based Hizmet movement. “The prime minister believes the parallel structure will stage a coup against his rule, which is why he is trying to crack down on the schools. But closing down the schools would be the worst thing for Turkish people,” said Kıratlıoğlu.

Former leading member of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) Ertuğrul Yalçınbayır also harshly criticized the government’s attempts to close Turkish schools abroad, underlining that closing down such schools would be in “violation of both national and international laws.”

“Such an attempt is obviously against the Constitution,” added Yalçınbayır.

Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) deputy Metin Lütfü Baydar said that it is unfathomable to punish those who teach foreigners Turkish songs.

“Management means giving the person who works for this country their due,” said Baydar.

Eskişehir Mayor Yılmaz Büyükerşen described Turkish schools abroad as a form of “culture mobilization” and a “magnificent model.”

“Everyone should support these schools. We are ready to provide our venues for the Turkish Olympiads,” said Büyükerşen.

Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu has sent orders to Turkish embassies to take steps towards the closure of Turkish schools, according to many reports. The foreign minister has also defended instructions given to Turkish embassies and representations abroad to have Hizmet-affiliated schools shut down. Davutoğlu said the reason behind the orders was that a number of foreign civil society representatives had sent letters to officials in their countries in which they lodged complaints about Turkey.

Recent reports say Erdoğan personally asked Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani to close down Turkish schools in the autonomous region of Iraq during Barzani’s visit to Turkey in mid-February, according to sources close to the KRG prime minister. Erdoğan also called on the administration of Pakistan’s Punjab region to shut down its schools linked to the Hizmet movement.

Last month, parents of students at the Yavuz Salim Anatolian School in Kanifing, Gambia, received a letter announcing its immediate closure. According to reports, the national education authorities of Gambia reportedly sent a one-sentence letter to the principal ordering the school’s immediate closure, and the principal in turn sent a letter to all parents announcing the government’s decision to close down the school.

Source: Todays Zaman , April 9, 2014


Related News

Hate towards Hizmet Movement as a political strategy

The Hizmet movement has broad support from every walk of life in the country. A very popular civic movement, many groups are sympathetic to the cause of the Hizmet. So, the image of the Hizmet had to be turned upside down.

Unbelievably corrupt!

Islamism in this sense [ party comes before the government] is over. The Muslim world is looking towards a post-Islamist paradigm by means of perceptions about citizenship, constitution, the state and civil society.

Turkish businessmen gift another school to South Africa

Managers of Gaziantep based Caliskan Group and South Africa based Sumo Coal, brothers Israfil and Semsettin Caliskan, have constructed a 500-student capacity school in Pretoria, the managerial capital of South Africa. The inauguration of Star College was performed by the minister of education of Gauteng province, Barbara Creecy, in an opening ceremony hosted by a former Fenerbahce midfielder Johan Moshoe.

That Erdogan’s War With Education In Africa

The branding of Gulen-inspired schools as treasonous, thus, serves the purpose of Erdogan and not that of Africa. Even if he builds public schools in Africa, will he sustain it? Will he ensure that the government after him will not reverse the policy? Africa is wiser than the Turkish president thinks.

Exit strategy for the AKP

Hizmet’s Journalists and Writers Foundation (GYV) reiterated last month, the AKP must, as soon as possible, start working towards EU reforms, the establishment of a fully democratic Turkey, the establishment of the rule of law, the most advanced fundamental rights and freedoms, equality of all before the law, a civilian constitution and a transparent state that can be held accountable.

Why Mr. Gülen was targeted

The main difference between Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen and the politician who became Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is that the former is vehemently opposed to the use and abuse of Islam as a political ideology and party philosophy while the latter sees the religion as an instrument to channel votes and to consolidate his ranks among supporters.

Latest News

Fethullah Gulen – man of education, peace and dialogue – passes away

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

In Case You Missed It

New Level of Witch Hunt: Relatives are Targeted in Turkey

200 public servants sue PM over ‘parallel state’ statements

Police, gov’t inspectors raid Gülen-inspired private, prep schools in Gaziantep

Hate towards Hizmet Movement as a political strategy

A Turkish citizen spreads a message of love and coexistence from the US

Kimse Yok Mu’s volunteer doctors on their way for Africa

The Future of Islamic Civilization in A Globalizing World

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News