Turks seek asylum in South Africa


Date posted: November 21, 2016

Yazeed Kamaldien

Cape Town – Turkish businessmen fleeing arrest in their country for links to an alleged terrorist organisation are trying to set up a new life and open companies in South Africa.

Speaking on condition of anonymity to Weekend Argus, a few of the businessmen explained how the Turkish government seized their homes and businesses. The businessmen say some of their families are still at risk back home.

Turquoise Harmony Institute, a Turkish non-profit organisation, with branches in Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg, is assisting Turks seeking asylum in the country.

Turquoise is part of the global Gülen Movement which the Turkish government accused of orchestrating the failed coup attempt on July 15.

The social movement’s founder, US-based Turkish preacher Fethullah Gülen, has denied any involvement in the attempted coup.

Turkish police have meanwhile been knocking down doors of the movement’s members or sympathisers countrywide.

One of the businessman who fled to Cape Town three months ago said the government “took everything that belonged to me”.

“I was travelling when I got news the police raided my house and my company. I couldn’t go back home. The government accused me of being a terrorist from Syria. I have never even been to Syria.”

He said he owned two hotels and six textile shops. His brother’s shops have also been seized. The businessman managed to get his family to Cape Town too.

“They left the country on the same day when our home was raided.”

He said he was merely “sympathetic to the Gülen movement” while also being part of the ruling party in Turkey. Now he fears to return home.

Another businessman from Izmir,Turkey, said he was travelling in Germany “when my life changed in one night”.

“I was chairman of the business association in my city and a supporter of the Gülen movement. The police came to my home and business. My wife was not yet at home,” said the businessman.

“The police searched everywhere for a book written by Gülen. There was no book. A policeman said they found a book. I have never seen it. I don’t know what kind of book it is.”

The businessman added: “My brother has the same problem with the police. He couldn’t leave the country and is now hiding in Turkey with his family.

Muhittin Camlibel, director of the Cape Town branch of Turquoise, said their movement was launched in 1966 to do humanitarian work and fund educational projects.

Camlibel rejected the Turkish government’s claims their movement was behind the coup or that they were terrorists.

“When you call someone a terrorist it means they must have weapons and create destruction. We have only schools and educational institutions.”

Turquoise has opened nine schools in South African since it was established in the country in 1997. It has also built a mosque in Midrand and has strong relations with local interfaith groups, politicians and business leaders.

“We had a productive relationship with the Turkish government until 2012 when we started talking out against corruption. Then the government started shutting down our institutions,” said Camlibel.

“We heard there are Turkish intelligence agents here. They want to spy on us and find out who is against the government.”

Kaan Esener, the Turkish ambassador to South Africa, said it was a “pity they (Turquoise) have been able to establish themselves in South Africa”.

“There is no doubt in our mind, the evidence that is coming out, that the Gülen movement was behind the coup. It is a terrorist organisation,” said Esener.

“They used lethal force against innocent civilians. They killed lots of people and they bombed the parliament.”

Esener also denied Turkey had intelligence agents operating in South Africa.

Source: IOL , November 19, 2016


Related News

200 public servants sue PM over ‘parallel state’ statements

Interior Minister Efkan Ala was questioned about the government’s actions against “the parallel state” and the “Cemaat,” referring to the followers of Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, who has been in voluntary exile in the United States for over a decade.

Fethullah Gulen’s Message of Condolences for Victims of Terrorist Attack at Istanbul Ataturk International Airport

Turkish Islamic scholar and peace advocate Fethullah Gulen, who has been residing in Saylorsburg, PA since 1999, condemned the horrific terrorist attack at Istanbul’s Ataturk International Airport.

Sudan arrests Gülen-linked businessman at Turkey’s request

Sudanese law enforcement detained Turkish businessman Memduh Çıkmaz at Ankara’s request as part of an investigation into the Gülen movement. Çıkmaz was detained in the capital city of Khartoum on Wednesday and denied request to meet his lawyer and family members.

Arrested After Giving Birth: Turkey’s Post-coup Crackdown Reportedly Hits Maternity Wards

Following the abortive putsch on July 15 2016, allegations of unfair trials, using torture in prisons and holding suspects without trial have been made against Erdogan’s government. And now, it has been alleged that Turkey is arresting women accused of links to the Gülen movement immediately after they give birth.

Turkic American Alliance Condemns Government Takeover of Zaman

Turkish government seized control of Zaman Newspaper, the largest and highly circulated newspaper in Turkey. The takeover is a violation of the freedom of press which is vital for every democratic state and requires political intervention from the international community.

Kimse Yok Mu cheers up Panamanian Orphans

The foundation built an additional facility for an orphanage in a far-flung corner of the country. The new facility came as a fresh air to the orphans living in squeezed rooms due to lack of space and beds.

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

Kimse Yok Mu and UN launch relief project for Syrian refugees

Hundreds celebrate Clifton’s diversity at festival

Analysis: Power of Turkey’s Fethullah Gulen

Abant meeting calls for commitment to EU process, new constitution

Erdogan vows for genocide of Gulen sympathizers: “We will not give them the right to life!”

TUSKON encourages mutual Russian-Turkish investment

Can Washington Ever Welcome a Nonviolent Muslim?

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News