Ministry of Education denies authorizing raid on Gülen-inspired schools


Date posted: October 7, 2015

EBUBEKİR KORAN / ADANA

The Ministry of Education denied on Tuesday having authorized a raid on private schools inspired by the faith-based Gülen movement that was conducted nearly two months ago in an official written statement sent in response to an objection submitted to the ministry by a lawyer representing the school group.

After the raids on Burç Schools institutions in the southern province of Adana in August, the school sent a petition of objection to the Ministry of Education regarding unlawful acts committed by auditors that were present at the inspections. The ministry responded with an official written statement, saying that the August inspections were not authorized by the ministry but by the Adana Provincial Security Directorate, revealing that they are not “routine inspections” as was claimed by the police officers and the auditors at the time.

Speaking to Today’s Zaman on Tuesday, Serkan Ulufer, a lawyer representing Burç Schools said: “They [police officers and inspectors] were saying that raids were ‘routine inspections’ and not authorized by the provincial security directorate but by the governor’s office. However, the statement sent by the Ministry of Education confirms our claims [that the raids were authorized by the police]. We [Burç Schools’ authorities] were claiming that the aim of the [raids] wasn’t to inspect the schools, but to intimidate the people related to them. The statement of the ministry confirms those claims, too.”

An increasing number of schools and institutions sympathetic to the Gülen movement have been targeted by the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) following a major graft investigation implicating President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and other top Justice and Development Party (AK Party) figures that was made public on Dec. 17, 2013. Then-Prime Minister Erdoğan accused the Gülen movement of instigating the operation in efforts 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 the movement’s sympathizers].” 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 has been brought against it.

Source: Today's Zaman , October 06, 2015

Tags: | | | |


Related News

66,000 students relocated after Turkish government shut down 15 universities over coup charges

Turkish government has closed down 15 universities across the country over their alleged links to the Gulen movement since last summer, leading 66,000 students to look for somewhere else to continue their education.

Bank Asya says it weathers ‘stress test’, still strong

Turkish media say state-owned companies and institutional depositors loyal to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan have withdrawn TL 4 billion ($1.79 billion), some 20 percent of the bank’s total deposits, over the last month to try to sink the lender. The government has declined to comment. Bank Asya’s chief executive Ahmet Beyaz said the bank’s founders included sympathizers of cleric Fethullah Gülen, who officials say is behind the corruption investigation posing one of the biggest challenges to Erdoğan’s 11-year rule. But he said the bank was not at risk.

With Husband Already In Jail, Woman Along With Two Children Detained In Post-Coup Witch Hunt

Nearly seven months after former public worker B.K. was arrested, his wife and two children were also detained as part of a government witch hunt against the Gülen movement. She is also diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Turkey’s development agency spying on Gülen followers in Latin America

Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) has been spying on Gulen followers in the Latin American countries. TIKA’s Colombia coordinator, Mehmet Özkan has admitted that the agency has been reporting the activities of Gulen movement in the Latin American countries to Turkey and Turkish embassies across the continent.

Public Enemy No. 1: A Visit with Fethullah Gülen, Erdogan’s Chief Adversary

In a meeting at his compound in Pennsylvania, Turkish cleric Fethullah Gülen defends himself against claims made by Turkey’s president that he was behind this weekend’s failed coup. He alleges that power has poisoned Erdogan.

Zaman Media Group receives 5 awards from WAN-IFRA

The Zaman and Today’s Zaman dailies, as well as three Zaman supplements, have received perfection awards from the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA), which were announced at the World Publishing Expo 2014 in Amsterdam. During the exposition, the results of the International Newspaper Color Quality Club (INCQC) — which is the only worldwide quality printing competition among newspapers, held biennially — were announced.

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

MHP: Gov’t should not harass its citizens who open Turkish schools abroad

Chestnut Retreat Center offers a look inside their Saylorsburg facility and its mission

‘A bridge should not demolish other bridges,’ says scholar Gülen

Why is the government freeing bloody murderers?

KADİP’s 1st international photography contest held for peace

Turkey: ‘Exclusion for all’ state

Final Declaration of the 32nd Abant International Forum “Freedom of Speech & Respect for the Sacred”

Copyright 2024 Hizmet News