Turkish “religious advisors” are keeping an eye on Erdogan opponents in Belgium
Brussels stabbing leaves ‘at least three people injured’ outside Turkish embassy as nationals vote in referendum over handing Erdogan more powers. The Belgian prime minister said he would not tolerate violence as Turkish nationals voted in a referendum on the future of their country (March 30, 2017)
Date posted: April 2, 2017
Turkey is pressuring “religious advisors” to keep an eye on President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s opponents in 38 countries, including Belgium.
Le Soir reported on this story on Saturday. The paper got hold of an 8-page report, signed by the Turkish embassy in Brussels and its Religious affairs councillor.
The report calls preacher Fethullah Gülen’s movement a “terrorist organisation”, as Turkish authorities hold it responsible for last year’s putsch. It also mentions the Fedactio group and the sixty or so associations it includes. The report names the associations in detail, analyses their strengths, how they could be shut them down and mentions individuals. The report also talks about deregistering students from Gülen schools in Flanders en masse.
The councillor is also concerned about the existence of a “Gülen chair for intercultural studies”, part of the Social Science faculty at Leuven University (KUL).
In Belgium, how the religious councillor at the Turkish embassy behaved could be seen as interference, Le Soir pointed out.
State Department: US concerned by rhetoric from Turkey on Russian envoy killing
John Kirby, spokesman of the US State Department, said “Secretary [Kerry] has raised concerns about some of the rhetoric coming out of Turkey with respect to American involvement or support, tacit or otherwise, for this unspeakable assassination yesterday because of the presence of Mr. Gülen here in the United States.”
Fethullah Gülen’s Statement of Condemnation on the Bombing in Manchester, UK
It is heartbreaking that a concert, a joyful event meant to bring people together to enjoy music and friendship, so quickly devolved into a scene of violence, chaos and terror. Any attack on the sanctity of human life is an attack against humanity. I will continue to denounce without hesitation any use of violence to promote an agenda – whether religious, political or ideological.
Minister Şahin praises Journalists and Writers Foundation for courageous coverage
SEZAİ KALAYCI, NEW YORK Family and Social Policy Minister Fatma Şahin has praised the Journalists and Writers Foundation (GYV) for its members’ courageous coverage of important issues at a time when the country is taking steps for democratization. Şahin’s remarks came during a panel discussion on women’s issues held by the GYV and Peace Islands […]
Profiled lawyer files criminal complaint against MİT, MGK
Taraf began publishing a string of confidential documents suggesting that the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government and MİT had collected information on a large number of individuals through 2013 at the request of the MGK. The targets were reportedly members of the Hizmet movement, a faith-based community inspired by Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen.
Gülen files criminal complaint over illegal wiretapping
Illegal wiretapping has been an issue in Parliament as well, as opposition parties have asked for a parliamentary session to address wiretappings carried out by the National Intelligence Organization (MİT). Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) İstanbul deputy Ferit Mevlüt Aslanoğlu called for a parliamentary session to inform deputies about the technical details of wiretapping.
Detainees ‘beaten, sexually abused and threatened with rape’ after Turkey coup, Human Rights Watch claims
In a 43-page report published on Tuesday, the human rights group said a “climate of fear” had prevailed since July’s failed coup against President Tayyip Recep Erdogan and the arrest of thousands under a state of emergency.
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