Human Rights Watch (HRW) criticizes Cabinet ruling on Kimse Yok Mu
Date posted: October 6, 2014
The nonprofit Kimse Yok Mu’s status to collect donations without state was officially revoked with a cabinet ruling on October 2nd.
Human Rights Watch released a statement on Saturday. The statement pointed out that restricting the activities of an association or a foundation must rest on legal bases. They blasted the government for arbitrary action against Kimse Yok Mu. It read, “The cabinet ruling against the Kimse Yok Mu aid organization, means a breach of Turkey’s domestic law and its international obligations.”
Human Rights Watch (HRW) Turkey researcher Emma Sinclair-Webb said that activities of any associations now might be restricted only by a court order, and added that “it seems that ruling doesn’t have any legal basis.”
Sinclair-Webb continued: “revoking and limiting an organization or association must only be by court order and the court order must be based on focused proof.”
In a BBC interview aired in late February, Fethullah Gülen once again spelled out the most important challenges for Turkey: establishing unity among diverse groups that include Alevis, Kurds and others; boosting educational opportunities for the young population; and tackling the long-running poverty problem in Turkey.
Kimse Yok Mu to stop beggary in Sakarya, Turkey
Kimse Yok Mu (KYM) has recently initiated a project, “a card of hope,” in the city of Sakarya, Turkey. The project aims to stop beggary in the city. Volunteers of KYM would distribute “a card of hope” to every beggar in the city, which would contain information and directions on how to receive aid from local Kimse Yok Mu branch.
Turkey’s post-coup crackdown moves overseas
In several cases, Turkey has offered to run the seized institutions, although it is expected to face legal challenges. Kimse Yok Mu, which had more than 200,000 volunteers in 100 countries before being forcibly closed after the coup attempt, is understood to be preparing to take the decision to international courts. Joshua Hendrick, an expert on the Gulen movement said Ankara faced a big challenge when it came to stepping into the shoes of its former allies.
Gov’t reshuffling justice system to punish Hizmet
The Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government, in what many consider an attempt to take revenge on the faith-based Hizmet movement, has been reworking the justice system in Turkey — shutting down certain courts, establishing new ones and quickly assigning some prosecutors and judges to deal with certain cases — which is diametrically opposed to the principles of law.
Gov’t steps up campaign against Hizmet via terrorism accusations
The government has intensified its campaign against the Hizmet movement, a civil society initiative inspired by Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen’s teachings promoting interfaith dialogue, peace and tolerance, by putting Gülen on a list of wanted terrorists despite the move lacking any legal basis.
Ex-soccer player’s resignation a turning point for the AKP
“Those who want to establish a parallel structure alongside the state, those who have infiltrated into the state institutions … We will come into your lairs, and we will lay out these organizations within the state,” PM Erdogan said on Dec. 21. Gulen responded in kind via a video message: “Those who don’t see the thief but go after those who chase the thief … May God bring fire to their homes.”
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