72-year-old Turkish man detained over coup charges
Date posted: September 21, 2016
A total of 12 people, among them a 72-year-old Turkish man, were detained as part of an investigation into the Gülen movement in the Black Sea province of Zonguldak on Monday.
The elderly man, known by initials H.A., was brought to the court for testimony by the help of gendarmerie officers with a stick on his hand.
Detainees were reportedly suspected of having used ByLock, a smartphone messaging application or what Turkish prosecutors calls the top communication tool among the members of the movement. Apart from suspected of the Bylock use, H.A. is allegedly accused of being the representative of the movement in a village in Zonguldak.
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.
Haldun and his wife, Funda, fled Turkey about two years ago with their three daughters and are now seeking political asylum in the United States because if they go back to Turkey they face arrest and likely torture. Once a successful manufacturer of washing machine products, Haldun, Funda and their children are now a family without a country; their factory turned over to a government trustee, their passports taken away, and their property and belongings nationalized.
Hizmet and self-criticism
Fethullah Gülen stated a few days ago that he made a mistake by supporting the Justice and Development Party (AKP) during the 2010 referendum campaign. Even though, as of today, I do not think that supporting the constitutional amendment package was wrong in itself, it seems that this package has paved the way for the AKP’s growing semi-despotism.
Reuben Abati: Let’s Talk Turkey About Turkey
YeniSafak News, a pro-government Turkish newspaper: “Turkish envoy seeks closure of Gulen schools in Nigeria” (July 29). But are they really Gulen schools? Interestingly, some Nigerian newspapers reported that Turkey has “ordered” the Nigerian Government to close down some schools! Can an Ambassador or any country give orders to the Nigerian government?
Don’t Make A Mystic into a Martyr: Fethullah Gülen as Peacebuilder
My conclusion? He’s a mystic in the Sufi tradition of Islam. And like other famous mystics in history—notably Gandhi, or Rumi—from whom Gülen draws deeply, Fethullah Gülen is a peacebuilder. And history teaches us that peacebuilders are likely to be misunderstood, vilified, and targeted. It would be tragic if once again historical forces conspire to turn a mystic into a martyr.
Why I Asked National Security Adviser to Stop Turkish Espionage on Nigeria
If members of Hizmet have done anything wrong, since they are in Nigeria, the Turkish government, through its embassy here can report them with hard evidence to the Nigerian security service. The fact that they have resorted to underhand tactics means they have nothing credible against these innocent fellows.
Gülen and the AK Party: A common quest for democracy or something more? (2)
* Mehmet Kalyoncu Both the Gülen movement (aka Hizmet movement) and the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) seem to believe that military operations alone cannot solve Turkey’s terrorism problem. Because of this shared understanding, the movement’s civil society organizations and government agencies have been working hand-in-hand in the Southeast to revive the region […]
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