Police officer reassigned for attending dershane picnic
Date posted: April 29, 2014
ANKARA
The Interior Ministry has reassigned police officer H.D., who worked at the National Police Department’s Anti-terrorism Unit in Ankara, on the grounds that he and his child attended a picnic organized by a dershane (private preparatory school) affiliated with the faith-based Hizmet movement.Since a major corruption and bribery investigation implicating a number of top government officials went public on Dec. 17, thousands of police officers have been reassigned or removed from their posts because of alleged links to the Hizmet movement, inspired by the teachings of Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen. The government and circles close to it have accused the movement of being behind of the corruption probe.
In Ankara, H.D. was reassigned allegedly because his child was attending a Hizmet-affiliated exam preparatory school and because he attended a picnic that was organized by the school. When a high-ranking police officer opposed the reassignment of H.D. and asked the deputy director of the Counterterrorism Unit why he was among the officers supposed to be reassigned, the deputy director allegedly responded that H.D. was reassigned because his child was a student at a school affiliated with the Hizmet movement and because the officer himself attended a school picnic.
In addition to thousands of police officers, the government has replaced the prosecutors who initiated the probe as well as others working for public prosecutors’ offices and dozens of officials at various state institutions.
Nazli Ilicak, March 3, 2012 While February 28th is debated these days, a notion has been created as if Gulen was collaborating with “post modern coup.” In fact, Gulen in his interview on Channel-D on April 17,1997 asked Refahyol government to resign. However, these words were spoken in order to reduce the tension in the […]
Turkish consulate in Rotterdam seized passports of Gulen-supporters
The Turkish consulate in Rotterdam confiscated the Turkish passports of a number of Dutch-Turkish people believed to be affiliated with the Gulen movement. The people involved were told that they are now classified as a fugitive and were given a one-day passport to fly to Turkey and prove their innocence in front of a judge.
Opposition leader Destici: Since when has exposing graft been a crime?
Allegations previously dismissed by judicial authorities are being raised again. People in the bureaucracy are being profiled. Officers have been removed from their posts in some ministries. Furthermore, mayoral elections are scheduled for March, and campaigning is becoming tenser.
Counterterrorism judge found to be PM’s strong supporter
Judge Yusuf Şahin, who was appointed to the Van Counterterrorism Court in April, shared a photo of the prime minister on Facebook with the tag “Liderlerin lideri Erdoğan” (Erdoğan, leader of all leaders). The judge also posted comments on Facebook praising the prime minister and the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and leveling strong criticism at Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, the inspiration behind the faith-based Hizmet movement, which works in the fields of education, charity and outreach.
Hate discourse directed against Hizmet movement
It is impossible not to see the polarization among the people over the upcoming presidential elections; this polarization raises serious concerns. It is also possible to consider the verbal attacks and violence against the Hizmet movement in the context of the literature on politicide and genocide. However, not only the Hizmet movement will suffer from repressive-hegemonic politicide. The entire country of Turkey will be hurt by this.
TÜBİTAK official says forced to make changes to bugging device report
The former head of the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey’s (TÜBİTAK) Research Center for Advanced Technologies on Informatics and Information Security (BİLGEM) has said he was forced to make changes in a report as part of an investigation into a “bugging device” found at the prime minister’s office.
Latest News
Sacramento leaders gather for Iftar dinner in celebration of Ramadan
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
In Case You Missed It
The demise of Turkish democracy
“We will root out every single Gülenist from the Balkans,” Erdoğan says in Serbia
Confluence of cultures at 14th edition of IFLC
Gulenists dismissed, purged, and tortured: Canadian Immigration Board
Head of Turkish Olympiads committee: The Nobel Foundation cannot overlook us
Renewing Islam by Service: A Christian View of Fethullah Gulen with Pim Valkenberg
10-year-old girl dies in traffic accident while on way to visit to imprisoned father