Istanbul police display hundreds of books among evidence of ‘terror’
Date posted: September 7, 2016
Police in Istanbul’s Esenler province displayed seized books of Fethullah Gülen as evidence of terror.
In a statement on Monday, Esenler police said it has detained 31 suspects as part of investigations into the Gulen Movement, which the government accuses of masterminding the July 15 coup attempt, so far. While 14 of the suspects were arrested, 16 were released. The detention process is still underway for the remaining one, the statement said.
Turkish government pinned the blame for the failed coup attempt on the movement while the latter has denied involvement on multiple occasions.
Police seized Gülen’s 1,500 books; 24 CDs featuring Gülen’s speeches; TL 435,200 ($148,000) along with $99,200 and 700 euros; several laptops; two guns and some digital data, during operations targeting the alleged terrorist network of the movement.
“Hizmet Movement making tremendous contributions to Muslim culture”
The Hizmet Movement, as an organization, with Fethullah Gulen’s inspiration for the movement, is a bright light for the Muslim-American community because of the focus of the organization in doing community service through relief work, and in focusing on education, in scientific education in particular, and also, with regards to interfaith and intercultural exchange.
Think over extradition request [for Gulen] with care
In a rare public appearance recently, Gülen stated he had nothing to do with the attempt. Nor has Erdogan provided any obvious evidence that Gülen or his movement were plotting anything. Gülen lives quietly in Ross Township. It will take much detailed research to determine whether to grant Erdogan’s request that Gülen be extradited. U.S. officials should base such a move on only the most compelling evidence. Otherwise, they may be sending a lamb into a lion’s den.
Turkey’s recent view from the US
The way the AK Party has proposed new laws to increase government control over judges and prosecutors and how many investigations have slowed down have raised suspicions that the government might be trying to hide corruption. The censorship of Turkish media and the recent attempts to change laws about the Internet to easily increase censorship are raising concern.
TUSKON challenges Erdoğan to enter business, defies threats
In the strongest civil society reaction yet to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s month-long offensive tone and threats against Turkey’s largest Islamic group, the Hizmet movement, a leading business confederation affiliated with Hizmet on Saturday called on Erdoğan to quit politics and join the business world to make money.
Anonymous witnesses fail to identify suspects they earlier tipped off as Gulenist
An anonymous witness in Denizli failed to identify any of the 145 suspects, earlier accused of being followers of the Gulen movement, during a court hearing on Oct. 30. The judge in charge loudly read the names, however Aslan did not remember any of them. The judge asked: “Did you tip off about some names during your statement to the prosecutor, is that right?”
Let Mr. Erdogan Fight His Own Battles
Mr. Erdogan is trying to drag the United States into the argument by threatening to demand Mr. Gulen’s extradition to Turkey. Some experts say there is no legal basis for an extradition request because there are no charges or legal cases against Mr. Gulen, who has permanent-resident status and has lived in rural Pennsylvania since 1997.
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