Dialogue advocacy group ‘disturbed’ by Erdoğan’s harassment of Hizmet
Date posted: April 30, 2014
NEW YORK
The Alliance for Shared Values (AFSV), an advocacy body that serves as a voice for organizations affiliated with the Hizmet movement in the US, has said it is “deeply disturbed” by what it called Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s “politically motivated attempts” to crack down on law-abiding citizens.The group was protesting Erdoğan’s remarks about the Hizmet movement during an interview with Charlie Rose on PBS late on Monday, in which Erdoğan said his administrations seeks extradition of Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen to Turkey.The AFSV said the demand for extradition of Gülen without any charges is a clear indication of political persecution and harassment. “Such manipulative tactics are common practices in autocratic regimes, not in a democratic country that respects the rule of law,” the group said.The statement noted that Gülen is a “proud Turkish national and a law-abiding US resident” who has devoted his life to democracy, human rights and freedoms.
It added that Gülen and Hizmet participants should be recognized for their service to society and for fostering dialogue and understanding between Turkey and the world. Instead, it said, the Turkish government “shamefully uses false pretense to oppress and harass its own citizens, both within and outside Turkey.”
The statement noted that Erdoğan and his supporters have failed to provide any evidence to justify their accusations despite a months-long defamation campaign and that any evidence introduced in the future will be scrutinized as possibly fabricated.
“While we remain concerned about Erdoğan attempting to take undue advantage of Turkey’s strategic relationship with the US, we place our trust in the US tradition of democracy and the rule of law, and believe that Erdoğan’s move will ultimately be seen as yet another alarming attempt by his government to suppress the freedom of their citizens and silence their critics,” the AFSV highlighted.
“Unfortunately,” the statement concluded, “his actions will only achieve one thing: They will continue to polarize Turkey and isolate the Turkish people from their democratic allies around the world.”
Scholarly views in the aftermath of the coup attempt: A responsible government would rather support the Hizmet Movement
When the Hizmet Movement or Hocaefendi are mentioned specifically by governmentally influenced press in Turkey, it harms Turkey. Yes, it harms Hocaefendi, but not nearly as much as it harms Turkey. Turkey is hurting itself today when it limits political discussion, when it maligns its political adversaries, when it uses political tools and economic tools to harm social services and educational institutions in Turkey.
Canada’s Turkish community on edge as government crackdown continues
In the aftermath of the failed coup — and the subsequent purge of thousands of workers accused of being dissidents — Canada has seen a spike in asylum claims from Turkey. The 55,000-strong Turkish-Canadian community has also become increasingly polarized, with distrust and accusations of witch hunts against anyone deemed to be a sympathizer and supporter of the Gulen Movement.
Turkish American Society of Ohio Seeks to Foster Friendship and Understanding Between Cultures
In existence since 2010 and headquartered in Columbus, The Turkish American Society of Ohio’s mission is to introduce Turkish culture into American Society. Through their efforts in dialog and unique community services they also seek to promote friendship and understanding between cultures.
Turkish American ‘balance alignment’
Ali H. Aslan, Washington D.C. If, when I began working in Washington 16 years ago, someone had come up to me and said, “The day will come when nearly 50 senators and representatives from the US Congress will participate in a Turkish gathering,” I would have said he was dreaming. And if someone had also […]
Education as a Bridging Factor of All Dimensions of the Sustainable Development
Journalists and Writers Foundation (JWF), in partnership with Peace Islands Institute, organized a discussion panel during the 2nd Session of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development at the United Nations Headquarters. The panelists discussed that education was one of the key factors that affected all dimensions of sustainable development and could enhance the integration of the dimensions in a cross-sectoral manner.
Gülen becomes litmus test for American media
The International Herald Tribune and the New York Times published a story on Fethulah Gulen and the civic society movement he has inpsired, the Hizmet movement. It was the same story with different headlines. It was full of mistakes if not defamation. Below is a detailed analysis of the the news.
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
Borough President Adams Celebrates Eid with Food Donation
Fethullah Gulen’s Message of Condolences and Condemnation for Terrorist Attack Against Mosque in Egypt
‘Hiç Durmadan Hizmete Devam’: Turks Decry Erdogan Decision Via #HiçDurmadanHizmeteDevam
Indonesian students in Turkey at risk of Gulen purge
Nazarbayev says Kazakh-Turk schools belong to Kazakhstan, no extradition of teachers
