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)
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.

Source: The Brussels Times , April 2, 2017

Tags: | | | | |


Related News

Turkey purge victims unable to find jobs, cannot leave country

“It’s a kind of civil death,” Kerem Altıparmak, a human rights lawyer and political science professor at Ankara University, told the Los Angeles Times to describe how the lives of thousands have changed since a July 15 coup attempt. “You cannot leave the country, you cannot find other jobs, either because of legal or de facto obstacles, because even in the private sector people do not want to employ you.”

America’s Friends Get Arrested in Turkey’s Post-Coup Purges

Many of the Turkish officers that are the key counterparts for U.S. counterterrorism efforts have been arrested or purged after a failed coup earlier this month.

We the pious did not feel for the suffering of the Kurds

There’s even a television channel named “Dunya TV” founded by Fethullah Gulen’s followers and it broadcasts in Kurdish. An attorney in our Abant Meeting said he’s had some suspicions about our sincerity but he said the atmosphere in the meeting has persuaded him.

Hizmet movement rejects claim of forming political party

Hizmet says it is both practically and theoretically impossible to form a political party or to support a specific party, as it has volunteers from many different political ideologies. “This movement, which has no other goals than to serve humanity, would only advise its volunteers to form their political stances according to certain principles, like human rights, democracy, transparency, justice, pluralism, rule of law and freedom of expression and belief,” the statement said.

Turkish police detain al-Qaeda suspects

Turkish anti-terrorism police carried out raids in six cities on Tuesday, detaining at least five people with alleged links to al-Qaeda, including an employee of a prominent Islamic charity group that provides aid to Syria, media reports and officials said.

Almost 1,000 officers removed from post in İzmir, Ankara

Around 700 police officers, including four deputy chiefs and 70 high-ranking officials, were removed from their posts at the İzmir Police Department and reassigned to different positions on Thursday morning and removals continued later in the afternoon with 207 more officers

Latest News

Turkish inmate jailed over alleged Gülen links dies of heart attack in prison

Message of Condemnation and Condolences for Mass Shooting at Bondi Beach, Sydney

Media executive Hidayet Karaca marks 11th year in prison over alleged links to Gülen movement

ECtHR faults Turkey for convictions of 2,420 applicants over Gülen links in follow-up to 2023 judgment

New Book Exposes Erdoğan’s “Civil Death Project” Targeting the Hizmet Movement

European Human Rights Treaty Faces Legal And Political Tests

ECtHR rejects Turkey’s appeal, clearing path for retrials in Gülen-linked cases

Erdoğan’s Civil Death Project’ : The ‘politicide’ spanning more than a decade

Fethullah Gülen’s Vision and the Purpose of Hizmet

In Case You Missed It

Students from around the globe spread the idea of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’

Arrested Turkish Development

Turkish schools in Romania celebrate 20th year

Turkish schools abroad: a global phenomenon

Gülen extends condolences to MHP over official’s death

Kimse Yok Mu to launch 1000 “field schools” project in Africa

Prominent figures gather together at GYV iftar dinner in Istanbul

Copyright 2026 Hizmet News