Municipality shuts down three reading halls in Adıyaman

Sema-Der head Mustafa Tekin speaks to reporters on Friday. (Photo: Cihan)
Sema-Der head Mustafa Tekin speaks to reporters on Friday. (Photo: Cihan)


Date posted: February 23, 2015

Adıyaman Municipality has reportedly closed down three reading halls established to help educate the children of needy and poor families, using scores of police vehicles.

The reading halls were set up by the Sema Education Association (Sema-Der) established by Turkish schools affiliated with the Gülen movement, also known as the Hizmet movement, in cooperation with the Social Support Project (SODES). The reading halls had been the target of the municipality’s negative propaganda but the court decided to stop the implementation of plans to shut down the reading halls, a move that was later hindered by the authorities. A similar case is being tried at the Gaziantep Administrative Court, and the reading halls have been closed by municipal police officers before a final court decision.

Similar events also occurred at İstanbul’s Fatih Education and Culture House, Yunus Emre Education and Culture House in Yeşilyurt and Vefa Education and Culture House in Cumhuriyet. The municipal police officers reportedly used the assistance of a locksmith to open the doors and confiscated all the equipment of the reading halls in each case.

Mehmet Canpolat, a lawyer for Sema-Der, has called the developments an infringement on legal rights, as there been no court decision to shut down the reading halls. Sema-Der head Mustafa Tekin has said what happened to the association’s reading halls is a continuation of the government’s continuing pressure and crackdown on institutions affiliated with the Gülen movement. Tekin said that the association will use legal means to assert their rights.

Source: Today's Zaman , February 20, 2015


Related News

200 public servants sue PM over ‘parallel state’ statements

Interior Minister Efkan Ala was questioned about the government’s actions against “the parallel state” and the “Cemaat,” referring to the followers of Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, who has been in voluntary exile in the United States for over a decade.

Post-coup purge victim says he may never be a father due to torture in prison

One of the 48 victims said his testicles had been crushed and that a hard object was inserted into his anus while in prison. “I was kept naked in the cold. I was beaten. Pressure was applied to my genital area. The pain didn’t stop for months. I am a bachelor, and I may never be a father,” he said.

The Process Behind Turkey’s Proposed Extradition of Fethullah Gülen

By publicly campaigning for Gülen’s immediate extradition—before a formal request had been submitted—Turkish officials reinforced the idea that the United States is somehow protecting Gülen or resisting the extradition process. That is not true. There will be critics of any eventual decision, just as there are critics of the delay in reaching a decision. Whatever the result, both governments should communicate the decision with consideration for the long-term relationship and should operate on the assumption that the other is acting in good faith.

Pregnant with twins, Kocaeli woman detained during control at hospital

Nuriye Yalcin, a Kocaeli woman who is expected to deliver twin babies in 4.5 months was detained during a regular medical control at Izmit Medical Park Hospital on Tuesday.

GYV’s dialogue center not returned despite court order

Journalists and Writers Foundation (GYV) officials were forced to leave its affiliate Intercultural Dialogue Center (KADIM) office in the Eyüp district of İstanbul despite a court order ruling that GYV could return to the premises after the dialogue center was unlawfully evacuated by municipal police on Dec. 26, 2014.

Turkish PM Davutoglu baselessly claims Hizmet works with PKK

The Journalists and Writers Foundation (GYV) strongly criticized and denied recent remarks from Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu, who alleged that the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and the so-called parallel structure are “working together,” saying the allegation is baseless slander directed at the [Hizmet] movement.

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

Pak-Turk schools case: IHC grants more time to seek govt’s instructions

Turkish Cultural Center to hold ‘Henna Night’ fundraiser for water well construction in Africa

Detainee says was pushed to make accusations about Gülen movement

President Fox speaks about Fethullah Gulen and Gulen Movement

Ankara’s soft-power dilemma

‘Who do you like most, Erdoğan or Gülen?’ Turkish teacher asks primary school students

Armed with automatic rifles, Turkish authorities raid Gülen-linked schools

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News