Aid organization head blasts terror probe

Kimse Yok Mu aid organization's chairman İsmail Cingöz (Photo: Cihan)
Kimse Yok Mu aid organization's chairman İsmail Cingöz (Photo: Cihan)


Date posted: April 25, 2015

The president of the Turkish charity Kimse Yok Mu (Is Anybody There) has criticized people who accuse the organization of engaging in terrorist activities.

Last week, Turkey was shocked by a terror investigation against Kimse Yok Mu (KYM). According to a statement by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, the organization was being probed over its alleged involvement in terrorism during activities during Eid al-Adha.

In addition to attracting widespread public anger, the investigation also drew a rebuke from the KYM’s chairman, İsmail Cingöz, who called the probe a smear campaign. “To defame a non-governmental organization [NGO] that has done such good charitable work and that works for its nation heroically … To file a lawsuit against a charity on charges of membership of an armed terrorist organization … Even the cruelest person would not do something like that,” Cingöz said.

Listing the activities of the charity, Cingöz said: “The KYM was ranked among the 100 most active NGOs in the world by [Swiss non-profit group] Global Geneva. This is a first for Turkish NGOs. In its clean water projects, KYM has dug 2,130 wells in 19 different countries and helped some 5 million people improve their living standards. Building hospital complexes in five countries including Somalia, our foundation has been carrying out a host of international projects in the health sector. The number of people who have had cataract surgery alone has reached 33,000 and is expected to hit 60,000 by the end of this year.”

“The KYM has built dozens of orphanages in many countries including Burundi, the Philippines, Sudan and Chad and has provided a safe shelter for nearly 60,000 orphans. In addition, the KYM has constructed 36 schools across the globe and handed over the management control of them to either Turkey, the United Nations or local governments. … Our charity looks after 300,000 families — nearly 2 million individuals — in Turkey alone,” Cingöz said.

With its 210,000 volunteers, the KYM has been an advisory member of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), Cingöz added. The charity has been honored by the heads of states and parliaments of 80 countries, such as the US and the Philippines, for its activities.

Source: Today's Zaman , April 24, 2015


Related News

You can’t achieve democracy through military coup – Islamic scholar

“Once again, the Turkish media, under government control or pressure, is circulating horrific rumours, this time about a supposed second coup attempt in the works, supposedly prepared by my sympathizers with the backing of the United States. Such rumours are unfounded and irresponsible,” Gülen said.

Erdogan set up Maarif Foundation to seize Hizmet-inspired Turkish Schools

Despite tremendous efforts exerted by the government, only a few countries have given in to pressure from Ankara over the shutdown of Hizmet-linked schools, with a majority of them refusing to meet the demands of the Turkish government.

Auditors raid Gülen-inspired private school in Adana with police

In yet another government-backed operation targeting the Gülen movement, tax inspectors from the Finance Ministry on Saturday carried out a raid with police at a private school opened by volunteers of the movement in southern province of Adana.

Fethullah Gulen: Killing of Russian envoy ‘heinous act’

U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen on Monday condemned the assassination of Russia’s ambassador to Turkey as a “heinous act of terror” and urged the Turkish government to identify anyone who aided the gunman.

For first time, Fethullah Gülen curses purge of police officials in emotional speech

Fethullah Gülen has cursed those responsible for a purge of police officials involved in a corruption investigation. Turkish PM Tayyip Erdoğan has called the detention of scores of people seen as close to the government a “dirty operation” aimed at undermining his rule. Erdoğan has refrained from naming Gülen as the hand behind the investigation and he referred to an “illegal gang within the state” and systematically purged officials, including journalists in public broadcasters.

Pentagon Allies Jailed in Turkey Amid Coup Backlash, General Says

A top U.S. military commander said there was a persistent concern that the failed coup in Turkey – and the backlash by the Turkish government – would impair the Pentagon’s operations in the region.

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

The Hizmet Movement and Solutions to Today’s Problems

Turkish schools in Azerbaijan join SOCAR-financed int’l education complex

University preparatory courses and the Hizmet movement in Turkey

The Gülen Movement: a modern expression of Turkish Islam – Interview with Hakan Yavuz

Intellectuals from West, East agree Gülen movement works for a better world

Pak-Turk International Schools Foundation-Stone Laying Ceremony

Turkey’s Gulen Demand – The U.S. shouldn’t extradite the exiled Turk without better evidence

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News