The legacy of a professor closing down schools


Date posted: April 9, 2014

SEVGİ AKARÇEŞME
Closing down schools and being a professor seem mutually exclusive, but thanks to the extraordinary conditions in Turkey we have seen them coexist.

We have started the week by hearing about the attempt of Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu to close down the Turkish schools around the world which have been opened by entrepreneurs inspired by the Hizmet movement. This shocking report came as bitter evidence of how Davutoğlu, who takes pride in being an academic by profession at every opportunity, has quickly adopted politics, which he entered comparatively late. In other words, Davutoğlu seems to be doing his best to deserve his spot in the post-election “balcony photo” in which Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan included him.

One cannot help but wonder about the underlying reason of the “eclipse of reason” that is massive enough to lead to lobbying against Turkish schools which have become a source of pride for Turkey globally. The attempt to close down these schools is an indicator of hatred/resentment among some against the Hizmet movement, which laid the foundation for these institutions.

The extremely polarizing rhetoric of Erdoğan, which was full of baseless accusations and slander that aimed to create a fictional enemy, has somewhat resonated in the public opinion. Apparently, those who believe that they could win by taking sides with Erdoğan and his oligarchic clique must have thought that “Hizmet bashing” is a good political investment. Otherwise what could be the benefit of obstructing the Turkish schools in approximately 160 countries, which have become an important element of Turkey’s soft power? The perpetrators of such an attempt are destined to lose in the long run. They will be labeled as people who shut down schools of their fellow citizens abroad and as people who ran amok with political greed at home.

Davutoğlu, who talks about complaint letters about Turkey sent from groups in host countries to their governments as a pretext to shut down these schools, not only fails to prove the existence of such letters, but also say that they are not addressed at the schools. Such a claim terribly resembles the claims that “they attacked my headscarved sister in Kabataş,” “Bank Asya bought dollars on Dec. 17” and “the prime minister was blackmailed over prep schools,” which turned out to be baseless. Even if there were such letters from civil society organizations, why punish the schools?

The Turkish schools, which have proven their quality even in a competitive system like the US, serve as honorary Turkish embassies, especially in Africa. Having gone to many African countries even before Turkish diplomats, these schools have established bridges and a bond of trust. Without the mobilization of these schools by Turkish business communities, the Africa opening that Turkish diplomacy is so proud of could have never been achieved. The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs is shooting itself in the foot.

Fortunately, African leaders are not suffering from a total eclipse of mind/reason like ours! The Kenyan president, who paid a visit to Ankara on Tuesday, praised the schools as the president of South Africa went further and called Turkish entrepreneurs in his country his brothers as he welcomed them.

Foreigners did what Turkish schools succeed at today a hundred years ago. Think of Robert College, established by Americans in İstanbul in 1863! Can you imagine alumni of Robert College as not sympathetic to the United States, unless there were a serious reason? Similarly, the alumni of Turkish schools will turn into friends of Turkey by default.

It is impossible to explain the lobbying against Turkish schools by means of conscience. Apparently this is what happens when greed and hatred go beyond reason.

Still there is no reason to be hopeless. Governments come and go, but social phenomena remain. Turkish schools will not be shut down due to the campaign of those who can only afford to bribe a certain country in Africa. The losers will be those who undertake such an attempt.

Source: Todays Zaman , April 9, 2014


Related News

Turkish schools organize the biggest science olympiads of Indonesia

The biggest science olympiads of Indonesia organized by Indonesian Turkish schools get huge attention. 980 projects around the country were submitted to the olympiads for the competition, but only 178 of them made it to the finals. 356 students who made it to the finals received as much attention for their colorful attires as they did for their projects.

Turkish schools helped start trade with Turkiye

ARİFE KABİL, KENAN MEHMETZADE – İSTANBUL John Dramani Mahama, the President of Ghana, spoke in Istanbul at the Turkiye-Ghana Business and Investment Forum, which was organized by TUSKON- The Confederation of Turkish Industrialists and Entrepreneurs. He said that Turkish schools provided with qualified employees in his country. Mr. Mahama invited Turkish entrepreneurs to do more investment and open more […]

Turkish school takes US approach to get foothold in Egypt

“We have a character education program,” said the school principal, Mr. Shimshek. “We focus on responsibility, respect, caring, citizenship and giving back to society.”

Scholars: Hizmet efforts to build schools will not stop

Taipei, Dec. 12 (CNA) Supporters of a civic movement inspired by Fethullah Gulen, one of the most important Muslim figures in Turkey, will not cease their efforts to build schools as long as there is a demand for such service around the world, according to a Turkish scholar dedicated to the movement. The Hizmet movement […]

Where is Turkey going? (2)

Gülen movement supports a critical approach as a fundamental aspect of knowledge and faith. Furthermore, it considers science and mathematics to be especially necessary to a devout Muslim fulfilling his religious and civil duties and to improve the economic situation of his family and community.

Nigerian Turkish Nile University: Moulding the Lives of Young Nigerians

Nigerian Turkish Nile University, in its vision, hopes to grow into a vanguard university that gains the respect of the world through academic excellence by providing the highest quality university education for students from around the globe. Located in the heart of Abuja, the nation’s capital, the NTNU boasts of a clean academic environment and a friendly atmosphere.

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

Kimse Yok Mu’s permanent assistance continues in the Philippines

PACE concerned over lack of domestic remedy for purge victims in Turkey

Didier Reynders welcomes a delegation of young artist of the International Festival “Colors of the World” in the Egmont Palace

Nigerian federal gov’t on arrested students: Turkey on a vendetta mission

Turks in US Ditto: Dialogue

Or is it Gülenophobia?

US-Based Muslim Preacher Leverages Influence Back in Turkey

Copyright 2024 Hizmet News