Is there anybody there for Kimse Yok Mu?


Date posted: October 6, 2014

Pink Floyd says the following in their song Comfortably Numb: “There is no pain you are receding. A distant ship, smoke on the horizon. You are only coming through in waves.” I think these words reveal what is going on in the “new Turkey” under the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government.

Today, most of us have somehow begun to internalize the violation of rights and the weakening of democracy and rule of law. Unfortunately, we do not question the illegitimate practices of the government.

The pro-government media is employing a demonizing discourse for all Hizmet-affiliated institutions and public figures through smear campaigns. Recently, the Turkish charity organization Kimse Yok Mu that was established 12 years ago was faced with such a smear campaign. For instance, on Sept. 9, 2014, the pro-government daily Sabah published a news piece saying that an audit report prepared by inspectors assigned by the interior minister says that millions of liras were misused by the charity. However, the truth is that not a single irregularity was discovered in the activities of Kimse Yok Mu.

A few days ago, the Taraf daily reported that the government planned to remove Kimse Yok Mu’s public interest status, which would prevent it from collecting donations. Lately, Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç declared there was nothing clear about such speculations.

In a nutshell, what Kimse Yok Mu, which is the only charity organization in Turkey that holds special consultative status under the UN Economic and Social Council, is currently facing can be seen as state-led persecution.

Democracies become strong with strong NGOs. However, today what we are experiencing is totally at odds with democratic norms and principles and, unfortunately, most of us are just “comfortably numb” and keep silent.

Source: Today's Zaman , October 3, 2014


Related News

Myanmar-based family abducted by Turkish embassy from Yangon airport

Myanmar-based education professional M. Furkan Sökmen and his family were detained yesterday at the Yangon International Airport while trying to board a flight to Bangkok. the teacher said the Turkish ambassador to Myanmar had pressured police to confiscate the family’s passports.

Closing down prep schools another poor education policy decision

We are not convinced that shutting down prep schools will either improve quality of education in Turkey or increase educational equality,” said Batuhan Aydagül, director of the Education Reform Initiative (ERI or Eğitim Reformu Girişimi, ERG).

Can a leader play a mediator role while terminating an aid charity?

Inspired and initiated by the recommendations of Mr. Fethullah Gülen, Kimse Yok Mu has been one of the foundations aiming to bring aid to those suffering from hunger around the world and is involved in almost every conceivable issue around the world. It is best known in the field of international assistance and relief wherever and whenever needed.

5 children abandoned in front of prison as mother detained

A video shared on social media shows five children left alone in tears in front of a Prison in Ankara after their mother was detained while they were visiting their father in prison. In the video a child opens the door of a car in the prison parking lot, showing his brothers crying, and says in tears, “We are five brothers, left alone. We have a handicapped brother. I commend those people to God’s punishment.”

Outspoken lawyer barred from taking up Gulen-linked cases

Outspoken lawyer Kemal Ucar has been restrained from taking up defending people suspected of ties to the Gulen movement.

Antioch came together over Iftar

FAZİLET CANDAN – ANTIOCH Ramadan brings peace, mercy and blessings to the society. One good example if this was an iftar in Antioch, Turkey, where Alevite and Sunni Muslims, Jews, and Christians came together. Antioch has been remembered because of terrorism and some political incidents in the city. However, Alevites and Sunnis, Christians and Jews […]

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

Gülen movement reiterates principles, underlines transparency in statement

Gülen’s speech broadcast live for first time after website banned

Purge In Turkey Worries Kansas City Emigres

Slanders against Hizmet Movement at highest level, which offends Anatolians

Fourth Anatolian Cultures and Food Festival in Los Angeles

Gülen says he could be blamed for assassination of an MHP, CHP politician

‘I feel like I have been buried alive’: families live in fear and isolation as Erdoğan leads a witch-hunt

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News