Erdoğan’s fight against education in Africa

İhsan Yılmaz
İhsan Yılmaz


Date posted: January 30, 2015

İHSAN YILMAZ

Last week, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan visited a few African nations, among them Somalia and Ethiopia. When looking at his media mouthpieces’ coverage of the trip and his declarations, it seems the primary reason of his trip was to “tell” the African nations to close schools that were established by civil society groups and private companies affiliated with the Hizmet movement. He told them that the staff of these schools are foreign agents and, similar to what they did in Turkey, they could stage a coup in these African nations! Erdoğan’s solution was simple: Close the schools and the Turkish state will open new ones.

A Nigerian daily has responded to Erdoğan and wrote that Erdoğan thinks the Africans are stupid just because their countries are developing. This is exactly what we in Turkey have also been saying about Erdoğan’s funny maneuver. Hizmet exists in more than 160 countries, and in most of them it has fully functioning schools. In many of these, the schools have been operating for more than 20 years. And in almost all these countries where the schools exist, the children of the countries’ elite attend these schools.

The rulers and elite of these countries not only closely monitor and scrutinize these schools through their intelligence organs and the help that they get from their international intelligence partners, they also have a sort of insider knowledge about these schools and their staff through their own children. I have visited about 50 countries and have observed these schools, have met with staff, parents and the elite, including people from the media, the bureaucracy, business and politics, and have never heard of the ridiculous accusation that these teachers are spies or that they are preparing to stage a coup.

Erdoğan is so furious and insecure about the allegations of corruption he is facing in Turkey, he is not even aware that he is directly insulting the intellect and intelligence agencies of these nations. He is simply telling them that they are so stupid that they do not even know what is going on in their country and that he is the only one on Earth who knows the secrets of these schools. He is indirectly telling African leaders that they do not read The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Guardian, the Independent, etc., and never listen to the BBC or peruse its website, so they have not heard about his illegal, illegitimate fight and personal grudge against the Hizmet movement just because it does not support his corruption, does not obey him fully, does not make its media his mouthpiece, does not encourage people to accept his dictatorial tendencies, objects to his full control of the judiciary and the imprisonment of journalists. He does not even know that the elite of these countries are more educated, wise and multilingual than him. Their countries may be developing or underdeveloped for a variety of reasons, but these elite have received the best education in their countries and in the prestigious Western universities, speak English, French, etc., read books and listen to their advisers, international critics, etc., unlike Erdoğan, who does not possess any of these qualities.

Erdoğan is using the full credibility, prestige and power of Turkey, the Turkish nation and the Turkish state for his personal fight. These African leaders, who are polite and diplomatic, unlike Erdoğan, do not tell him off, but there are all sorts of signs that they are upset with Erdoğan’s immature attitude and will only pay lip service to his “wise” advice. If Erdoğan wants to open new schools in Africa, there is no ban on that. He can use the Turkish state’s money to do that, or he can ask his extremely rich sons, friends and relatives, who now command billions of US dollars, to open new schools in Africa. He can encourage other civil society actors to open new institutions in Africa, if he is sincere about education in Africa. But it seems that he is only preoccupied with closing down the already established, well running and successful schools just because he wants revenge.

He is so alone in this cruel fight that only a few politicians in his party support his statements against the Hizmet schools in Africa.

Source: Today's Zaman , January 30, 2015


Related News

Ruling AKP officials downplay tension with Gülen movement

The tension between the government and Gülen’s movement (also known as the “Community,” “Cemaat” in Turkish, or “Service,” “Hizmet” in English) has escalated after Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced plans to abolish private examination prep schools, many of which were financed and run by Gülen’s followers. The tension has recently peaked, with Erdoğan describing the group’s objection to his government’s plans as “a smear campaign.”

The International Festival of Language and Culture visits UN, Ban Ki Moon sends a message

The International Festival of Language and Culture (IFLC), which is a Gulen-inspired organization was at United Nations headquarters in New York on April 29, 2016. The youth from many different countries showcased their talents at UN. Mr. Ban Ki Moon, UN Secretary General, sent a message to IFLC.

Kimse Yok Mu providing assistance to Ebola victims in Guinea

Turkish aid organization Kimse Yok Mu has been supplying medical aid to Guinea since March, when the lethal Ebola virus struck the West African country, claiming 122 lives to date.

‘Building Bridges Through Education’ explores education’s role in a globalized society

Leaders of more than a dozen universities from around the world recently visited California University of Pennsylvania to discuss collaborative educational opportunities and the cultural gap that education can bridge.

Turkish schools and businessmen mobilized for Izmir’s EXPO candidacy

The Turkish schools around the globe have been making great effort for Izmir’s EXPO 2020 win. The schools and businessmen have taken action so that Bureau of International Expositions committee opts for Turkey in the voting to take place in Paris on November 27th. “What is lost with Olympics can be made up for in EXPO,” Fethullah Gulen had earlier said.

Fethullah Gulen Condemns Terrorist Attack in Nairobi, Kenya

Fethullah Gülen: I deplore these revolting acts of terrorism, which serve no purpose but to bring about destruction, sorrow and grief. I reiterate my condemnation of all forms of terror regardless of its perpetrators and their stated purposes. The criminals must be brought to justice even though that will do little to mitigate the cruelty inflicted on victims and their families.

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 charity Kimse Yok Mu helps the homeless after floods in Zimbabwe

3 taken into custody for asking Minister Ala questions

Expert: I fear that Turkey is headed to a prolonged period of civil conflict if not civil war

African Union, Kimse Yok Mu Sign Landmark Agreement

How Erdoğan painted himself into a corner

Arrested Turkish Development

Pro-gov’t columnist claims Obama could be Gülen’s White House ‘imam’

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News