Date posted: September 21, 2015

EBUBEKİR ATMACA / ANKARA

In yet another government-orchestrated operation targeting the faith-based Gülen movement, popularly known as the Hizmet movement, more than 60 police officers carried out raids on four different branches of the private Samanyolu schools in Ankara early on Monday.

iot police units accompanied police officers from the Anti-smuggling and Organized Crime Bureau during the raid, which took place in Ankara’s Yenimahalle district.

Officers started inspections after they were asked to present a search warrant by Adnan Şeker, the lawyer representing the Samanyolu schools.

An increasing number of schools inspired by the Gülen movement have been targeted by the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) following a major investigation into graft that implicated President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and other top AK Party figures, which was made public on Dec. 17, 2013. Then-Prime Minister Erdoğan accused the Gülen movement of instigating the operation in order to overthrow his government.

In May 2014, Erdoğan publicly advised AK Party supporters not to send their children to schools affiliated with the movement, vowing, “We will not even give water to them [the movement’s members].” He has also said he would carry out a “witch hunt” against anyone with links to the movement. Erdoğan has also ordered officials in AK Party-run municipalities to seize land and buildings belonging to the Gülen movement by any means necessary. The movement strongly rejects the allegations and no indictment or evidence has been brought against it.

Source: Today's Zaman , September 21, 2015

Tags: Defamation of Hizmet | Education | Hizmet and politics | Hizmet-inspired schools |