Governor’s office leads raid against Gülen inspired school based on annulled law


Date posted: October 19, 2015

MEHMET KURU / ESKISEHIR

The Eskişehir Governor’s Office has stated that an annulled law was mistakenly used in the inspection warrants for Samanyolu Primary School and its high school as well as for a FEM prep school in the province, showing how carelessly the government-orchestrated operations are being carried out against the faith-based Gülen movement, also known as the Hizmet movement.

The Lawyer, Selamet Şen, representing the schools told Today’s Zaman that when the aforementioned schools were inspected on July 30 and 31 with the presence of policemen, he filed a question to the Eskişehir Governor’s Office seeking justification for the inspections. In an official document sent to Şen, the governor’s office referred to the Article 10/E of the Law No. 5442. However, it was later revealed that the law in reference was annulled in 2008.

When the issue went public through the media, the Eskişehir Governor’s Office sent Şen another letter saying that the annulled law was mistakenly written in the inspection warrant, this time referring to Article 11/E of the same law. Şen argues that the police operations against the schools he represents are still unlawful as they were conducted with the instructions of the governor’s office.

Referring to Article 3 of Law No. 5580, Şen says that all training and education activities in Turkey are subjected to the permission and the inspection of the Ministry of Education; thus, the order of inspection issued by the governor’s office is unlawful. Şen said he was preparing to file a criminal complaint against the misconduct in office.

The Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government has for a while been organizing police raids against schools and civil society organizations inspired by the Gülen movement, under the guise of inspections. Calling it an illegal movement, yet without being able to present any valid evidence for this claim whatsoever, the AK Party tries to defame the movement and drive people away from it. However, time has proven that those who admire the Gülen movement’s worldwide efforts of promoting peace and tolerance through multicultural and multi-faith dialog have remained loyal to it and have maintained a strong stance against the unlawful government oppression.

Source: Today's Zaman , October 18, 2015


Related News

The Coup Attempt – Turkey’s Reichstag Fire

Once forces loyal to Turkish President Erdogan had put the attempted takeover down, he called the coup attempt “a gift from God” because it provided an excuse to crack down on competitors and opponents. Using enemies lists prepared well in advance, his purges have touched more than 100,000 and sparked widespread conspiracies among Turks that the July 15 coup was Turkey’s equivalent of the Reichstag fire.

The tragic story of a Turkish family fleeing to Greece from persecution

When the body of the 5-year-old Aylan Kurdi was found in the Greek island of Kos in 2015, Turkish president Erdoğan said: “What has drowned in the Mediterranean is not only the refugees. Humanity has drowned in the Mediterranean Sea.” However, President Erdoğan didn’t say a word about Turkish family’s tragedy, who were fleeing from the persecution of his own regime this time.

EP condemns media crackdown in name of rule of law, press freedom

The European Parliament on Thursday condemned the Turkish government’s attempt to silence critical media by launching raids on media institutions and detaining journalists on Dec.14, saying the steps taken by the Turkish government against the media raises questions about the rule of law and freedom of the media in the country.

Opposition condemns Erdoğan’s vindictive remarks against Gülen movement

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s televised remarks on Wednesday night suggesting that the witch hunt against members of Gülen movement will show no sign of abating under the new government has drawn condemnation from opposition political parties.

Kimse Yok Mu enables African girls to go to school

Kimse Yok Mu Foundation, with a record of charitable efforts in 113 countries around the world, has enabled African girls to go to school with the water wells it has established across the continent. These girls had to carry water from miles away and thus were unable to go to school. The foundation’s 1735 water wells in 20 different countries across the African continent have been serving some 3 million locals. Additionally, it reached out to 65,000 orphans in 50 countries.

Karzai honored Turkish schools in his country

SULTAN FAIZY, KABUL Afghan President Hamid Karzai has honored Turkish schools in his country, awarding them a prestigious state medal during a ceremony in Kabul on Monday. The ceremony was attended by Afghan Education Minister Farooq Wardak; the director general of Afghan-Turkish high schools, Hikmet Çoban; and a number of Afghan deputies. Çoban was given […]

Latest News

Turkish inmate jailed over alleged Gülen links dies of heart attack in prison

Message of Condemnation and Condolences for Mass Shooting at Bondi Beach, Sydney

Media executive Hidayet Karaca marks 11th year in prison over alleged links to Gülen movement

ECtHR faults Turkey for convictions of 2,420 applicants over Gülen links in follow-up to 2023 judgment

New Book Exposes Erdoğan’s “Civil Death Project” Targeting the Hizmet Movement

European Human Rights Treaty Faces Legal And Political Tests

ECtHR rejects Turkey’s appeal, clearing path for retrials in Gülen-linked cases

Erdoğan’s Civil Death Project’ : The ‘politicide’ spanning more than a decade

Fethullah Gülen’s Vision and the Purpose of Hizmet

In Case You Missed It

Kyrgyz President Atambayev: Turkish schools will not be closed

Today’s Zaman praised for quality coverage on 6th anniversary

The Hizmet Movement: Reflections from Sri Lanka

Turkish Cultural Center co-hosts Iftar with Westchester Reform Temple

Erdoğan’s efforts to destroy the Gulen movement aimed at consolidating his own power and regime

Turkish high-schooler commits suicide after father was dismissed under emergency rules

Archbishop Makgoba: Turkey’s religious tolerance answer to extremism

Copyright 2026 Hizmet News