African Union Commission chair supports creation of more Turkish schools

African Union Commission Chair Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma. (Photo: Cihan)
African Union Commission Chair Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma. (Photo: Cihan)


Date posted: November 27, 2015

TÜRKMEN TERZİ / JOHANNESBURG

Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, the chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, said on Tuesday during a visit to Johannesburg that volunteers working for the faith-based Gülen movement — inspired by the teachings of Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen — should continue to build schools and other institutions in Africa.

Dlamini-Zuma was visiting the Nizamiye Külliyesi, an Ottoman-style mosque complex that was built in the South African city of Johannesburg in 2013 and sponsored by Turkish businessman Ali Katırcıoğlu.

During the visit, Zuma was accompanied by Katırcıoğlu and many other Turkish education volunteers. She said: “I’ve been following this enormous project. However, I didn’t think it would turn out to be perfect like this. Whenever I see this mosque, I remember what a great religion Islam is. I understand the importance of your movement better lately after seeing how all those terrorist attacks conducted in the name of Islam damage the image of the religion. [Terrorist organizations such as] Boko Haram, al-Qaeda and [the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant] ISIL cause the religion of Islam to be misunderstood.”

Expressing confidence in the Turkish volunteers of the Gülen movement, Zuma added: “You are regarded as South Africans now. I have huge confidence in you. We are ready to do our best so that you can open more schools and other voluntary institutions [in Africa].”

Zuma asked Turkish volunteers to help improve the quality of a school where she and a number of South African presidents and ministers were educated, stating that the volunteers are very successful in the field of education. According to a recent cooperation contract signed between Turkish charity Kimse Yok Mu and the AU, a total of 1,000 schools will be built across Africa by the charity organization.

Before leaving the mosque complex, Zuma said she had enjoyed the visit. “This will not be my last visit. I’ll come here again together with my family. I would like to invite you to Ethiopia [the headquarters of the AU]. I would like to host you as my special guests.”

Zuma was awarded the Fethullah Gülen Peace and Dialogue Award during the eighth annual Ubuntu Lecture and Dialogue Awards ceremony held in Johannesburg in September.

Source: Today's Zaman , November 25, 2015


Related News

Lao deputy education minister grateful to Turkish schools

Lao deputy minister of education Lytou Bouapao commended the local Turkish schools, two-time recipient of the national medal. Noting that he knows the schools very closely as his child is also studying at one of them, he expressed his thanks to the teachers and authorities for the high quality education they are offering.

Erdoğan hampers girls’ education [by shutting down prep schools run by the Hizmet movement]

Adalet Binici, a 14-year-old Kurdish girl in eighth grade, became the champion in last year’s Level Determination Examination (SBS), a high school placement test administered by the Turkish government to over a million students nationwide, thanks to the supplementary education and training provided by a prep school run by the Hizmet movement that is inspired by education-savvy Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen.

72-year-old Turkish man detained over coup charges

Gülen movement has been accused of masterminding the coup attempt on July 15 despite its successive statements that denied any involvement. Failing to back up its accusations with credible evidence, the government has detained more than 40,000 people and arrested 24,000 over their alleged links to the coup attempt since July 15.

A Prayer for the victims of Turkey from Nigeria

God in heaven, I pray for the hundreds of thousands of Kurds, Alevis, Hizmet movement participants and minority Christians languishing in Turkish prisons for no justifiable reason.

Police, inspectors raid Gülen-inspired schools in Manisa for 3rd time

Police officers and inspectors from 15 government agencies have raided Gülen-inspired private schools in the western province of Manisa for the third time, as part of a government-orchestrated operation targeting the faith-based Gülen movement, popularly known as the Hizmet movement.

No better gift for Nigerien orphans

Kimse Yok Mu Foundation, which has been giving off Ramadan joy with the slogan “Fill up your umbrella of mercy with the abundance of sharing” in 110 countries on 5 continents, lifted up this time the orphans in the Nigerien capital Niamey.

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

Why won’t Obama extradite Gulen?

How come a 25 days old BABY could be a THREAT to the national security?

Erdogan vs the Gulen movement

Kimse Yok Mu holds iftar dinner for Thai Muslims

Daily publishes evidence of ‘color lists’ used to recruit public sector employees

Fethullah Gülen strongly condemns US consulate attack, extends condolences

The 14th Annual International Language and Culture Festival, organized by Raindrop Foundation

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News