Turkey warns Kazakhstan over Gulen-linked schools


Date posted: July 30, 2016

Astana (Kazakhstan) (AFP) – Turkey’s ambassador to Kazakhstan on Friday warned the Central Asian country over its schools linked to US-based preacher Fethullah Gulen, whom the Turkish government blames for this month’s coup attempt.

The ambassador was speaking after Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Thursday warned that followers of the controversial cleric could stage a coup in Kazakhstan’s neighbour Kyrgyzstan.

Ambassador Nevzat Uyanik raised the issue of “Kazakhstani-Turkish schools” believed to be run by foundations loyal to the 75-year-old Gulen’s ideas, saying Ankara does not support them.

“These schools have no relationship to Turkey’s official state organs whatsoever,” Uyanik told a news conference in the Kazakh capital.

He called the July 15 coup attempt in Turkey “a warning to other countries,” adding that “we are sure that the relevant bodies will start taking the necessary measures,” apparently referring to Kazakhstan authorities.

Cooperation “is not only in the interests of Turkey, these questions touch on the interests of Kazakhstan too,” he said.

Gulen, who has lived in self-imposed exile from Turkey since 1999, vehemently denies involvement in the coup attempt that left 270 dead and has seen tens of thousands of people sacked or detained in government reprisals.

Turkish officials accuse Gulen of building influence through a vast network of private education institutions, not only in Turkey but also in Africa and Central Asia.

Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan are the only two countries in the mostly Turkic-speaking Central Asian region where Gulenist educational institutions still have a significant presence.

Speaking on CNN-Turk television on Thursday, the Turkish foreign minister said followers of the cleric’s ideas could launch a coup in Kyrgyzstan, which has already seen two governments overthrown since gaining independence in 1991.

Source: AFP , July 30, 2016


Related News

Erdogan’s options: to propose and sponsor amendments at the US parliament or to provide evidence against Gulen

At separate meetings between President Obama, US Vice president Biden and President Erdogan of Turkey, the American justice system has technically made it very difficult and imposable for the unlawful demands of Erdogan to be met. However, the options available to Erdogan are number one, to propose and sponsor amendments at the US parliament, number two, is to provide evidences to his claims against Gulen.

Somali education minister praises opening of Turkish school

Somali students on Monday filled the classrooms of the famine-stricken country’s first Turkish high school, which the Turkish charity the Nile Organization established in the Somali capital, Mogadishu. Education Minister Ibrahim noted that “cities other than Mogadishu are also seeking to have similar Turkish schools.”

Gülen’s lawyer files libel suit against Interior Minister Ala

Albayrak stated in the petition that unrealistic allegations and imputations, intended to defame his client Gülen, were made by Ala during his speech in Erzurum. Albayrak stated: “The expressions used by Ala cannot be considered within the scope of freedom of expression as they clearly violate the personal rights of Gülen.”

Turkish Schools for a Brighter Future in Somalia

Future of Somalia, striving to combat the famine that the civil war and severe drought left behind, is raised at Somali-Turkish schools in the country. A total of 390 students -30 elementary and 360 high school- are receiving education at three different schools operated by Nile Institutions.

Zaman journalists defy threat of arrest with heads held high

Scattered across a newsroom producing Turkey’s largest-circulating newspaper, the Zaman daily, journalists from the Feza Media Group remain confident while waiting for police officers to come and handcuff them.

Slandering Turkish schools is treason according to well-known politician

In an interview with the Cihan news agency, Durak showed reaction to Erdoğan’s order to the ambassadors and he visited some of the Turkish schools in foreign countries. “Children of prime ministers and presidents and high-level bureaucrats are sent to these schools opened in Africa and many parts of the world… Many significant people are given education in these schools. I am of the opinion denouncing these schools to the ambassadors instead of supporting them is equal to treason,” said Durak.

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

GYV contributes to correct perception of Islam

Commentary: Abuses rampant in wake of Turkish coup

Media & Ethics Forum 2015: Democracy & Censorship in the Digital Age

Yamanlar Schools students sweep AMC 8

Gülen’s lawyers slam Erdoğan’s ‘slanderous’ unsolved murders remarks

Teacher gets arrested, wife suffers miscarriage amid gov’t crackdown on Gülen movement

Kimse Yok mu delivers aid in Palestine during Eid al-Adha

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News