Gülen’s lawyer denies Turkish schools working against host nations

A Turkish school in Mali. (Photo: Cihan, Abdülhamit Durmuş)
A Turkish school in Mali. (Photo: Cihan, Abdülhamit Durmuş)


Date posted: November 25, 2014

Lawyer of Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen has categorically rejected claims made by the Turkish president that schools opened by sympathizers of the Gülen movement in Africa are working against host nations.

Last week, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan warned African countries against a “threat” from “dangerous structures that look like nongovernmental organizations or education volunteers,” referring to the volunteers of the Gülen movement, saying that his administration is ready to cooperate with African governments against such structures.

Gülen’s Lawyer Nurullah Albayrak rejected the accusations in a written statement on Tuesday, describing the attacks as “hate speech and discrimination” against Gülen and volunteers of the movement. “It should be known crystal clear that neither Fethullah Gülen nor anyone having sympathy to him has never involved in any illegal activity against Turkey or other countries,” Albayrak stated.

The “parallel structure” is a term invented by Erdoğan to refer to followers of the Gülen movement, particularly followers within the state bureaucracy. He made the elimination of the so-called parallel structure a priority after a major corruption scandal involving people in his inner circle erupted with a wave of detentions on Dec. 17, 2013. The president, who was then prime minister, framed the corruption investigation as a “plot against his government” by the Gülen movement and foreign collaborators.

Turkish schools affiliated with the Gülen movement, also known as the Hizmet, have been opened around the world over the past several years, including in many countries in Africa. A charity group that is affiliated with the movement, Kimse Yok Mu, was also active on the continent until its license to collect donations was rescinded in Turkey, apparently as part of the government’s fight against the “parallel structure.” The Council of State halted the decision this week.

“We hope that heads of state and government will be more alert regarding these organizations, which create clandestine structures in every country they operate in and whose spying activities have lately become more visible,” Erdoğan said at the 2nd Turkey-Africa Partnership Summit in the capital of Equatorial Guinea, Malabo.

The lawyer said it is impossible to justify such “illogical” statements with democracy and universal values, adding that participants of the Gülen movement, with their contributions to trade and educational activities between Turkey and host nations gained the sympathy of the countries they are located. Gülen’s lawyer challenged Erdoğan to prove his claims. He said allegations against Gülen movement’s education and relief activities are not only true, but also libelious.

Source: Today's Zaman , November 25, 2014


Related News

Divided republic of RTE

The most recent example of the division is reflected at the social level. A realtor put a sign on his shop saying, “Followers of the Gülen movement are not allowed to do business in this shop.” Pro-Erdoğan journalists, instead of condemning the shop owner, thanked him. This is a typical hate crime promoted by Erdoğan and his close associates.

Turkey investigating 4,167 Gülen followers in 110 countries

At least 4,167 people in 110 countries are being investigated in Turkey over their links to the Gülen movement, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported on Thursday.

Global Doctors Movement goes to Africa, performs 65 cataract surgeries

Doctors with the Global Doctors Movement (Küresel Doktorlar Hareketi) and medical students from the Healing Hands Club of Şifa University have treated 65 cataract patients in Cameroon, Mali, and Somalia.

Turkish Schools Discussed at Johns Hopkins University

In a conference at the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute (CACI) at the Johns Hopkins University, Turkish schools in Central Asia were closely analyzed. In a conference titled ‘Turkish way of Islam Educates Central Asians’, which Dr. Bayram Balci from the French Institute of Anatolian Studies in Istanbul attended as lecturer, the educational movement initiated by Fethullah […]

Graduation ceremony of the Turkish school in Senegal

Lancei Keita © Ebrunews, Senegal Every year the Turkish school complex Yavuz Selim organizes a ceremony of delivery of diplomes of its éléves in final year of high school. This year the évenement has corresponded at the fifteenth anniversary of the Turkish school in Senegal. In Senegal since 1997, the group Yavuz Sélim says itself Relieved […]

Turkish witch-hunt against the Gulen movement lacks one thing: Evidence

Fethullah Gulen and his movement are being purged not for terrorism, but for being unwilling to mindlessly follow the new elite ISMAIL SEZGIN Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declares that the 15 July coup attempt was orchestrated by the Islamic cleric, Fethullah Gulen. Yet, there is little concrete evidence against Gulen. Instead, the government has […]

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

Turkish PM calls on Islamic scholar Gülen to return to Turkey

Stay course in Gulen case

Ergenekon opinion lists subversive plans for coup d’état

An Experience of Co-Existence: Panel on the Example of Istanbul and Şanlıurfa

It is a great loss that Turkish Olympiads were not held in Turkey

Under Erdogan oppression, autocracy rules in Turkey

Erdogan caught off guard in latest political crisis

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News