66,000 students relocated after Turkish government shut down 15 universities over coup charges


Date posted: June 11, 2017

Turkish government has closed down 15 universities across the country over their alleged links to the Gulen movement since last summer, leading 66,000 students to look for somewhere else to continue their education.

The government shuttered under post-coup emergency rule Fatih University, Murat Hudavendigar University and Suleyman Sah University in Istanbul, Orhan Gazi University in Bursa, Gediz University, Izmir University and Sifa University in Izmir, Altin Koza University and Turgut Ozal University in Ankara, Mevlana University in Konya, Canik Basari University in Samsun, Melik Sah University in Kayseri, Kanuni University in Adana, Zirve University in Gaziantep and Selahattin Eyyubi University in Diyarbakir.

Some 66,000 students registered to those universities were left to enroll in other universities, Gazete Duvar online news portal said.

Turkey survived a military coup attempt on July 15 that killed over 240 people. Immediately after the putsch, the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government along with Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan pinned the blame on the Gülen movement despite the latter’s denials of involvement.

With hundreds of institutions including universities seized, more than 120,000 people have been detained over alleged or real links to the movement so far.

Source: Turkey Purge , June 11, 2017


Related News

Lawyer: Female journalist traumatized by abuse, torture at Turkish police station

Hanım Büşra Erdal was subjected to a strip search at the police station and humiliated by police officers when she was taken from her prison cell as she was preparing to leave the prison. A strip search is allowed only if circumstances so warrant. “She is a journalist and was taken from the prison. She was already going through routine checks and searches in prison,” her lawyer said.

Germany informs Gülen sympathizers about Turkish Intel surveillance

German authorities have informed Turks linked with the Gülen movement about Turkish National Intelligence Organization (MİT) surveillance in Germany. German experts concluded that most of the photos of 300 Turks and 200 schools, associations and organizations that are connected to the Gülen movement were taken secretly by surveillance cameras.

Unity in diversity

Culture and language can help in bridging divisions on the lines of region, religion, language, ethnicity etc. This is what the International Festival of Language and Culture (IFLC) has been doing this since 2003 by showcasing music and dance from across different countries in Turkey annually.

Turkish Schools inspired by Gulen becoming global brands

At the first session of the conference, Nigeria’s and Africa’s problem of education as well as the solutions that the Turkish Schools, inspired by Gulen’s philosophy, offer to these problems were discussed.

Hizmet in Context: Societal Islam Versus Political Islam

The Hizmet movement is according to Ebaugh (2010) a civic movement rooted in Islam that is independent from the state. Others see it simply as a faith- based movement (Esposito and Yilmaz 2010). Agai (2004) describes it as an education network and Hendrick (2009) as a global pressure group to promote Turkish interests.

Fethullah Gulen’s Prominence in Indonesia

“The Honorable Gulen is a scholar whose horizon has transcended Turkey’s borders. He is a prolific mind who perfectly marries his thoughts to his words. The tenderness and elegance in his words captivate not only the mind but also the hearts of the reader.”

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

KYM Ramadan Aid for Ugandan Police Department

Fethullah Gulen on ‘GPS’: Failed Turkey coup looked ‘like a Hollywood movie’

Turkey asks imams abroad to profile Gülen-linked expatriates

Police officials who carried out graft operation detained in raids

Winds of friendship were enjoyed in different parts of Turkey during the month of Muharram

Kimse Yok Mu to provide meals to over 1 mln in Ramadan

President emphasizes importance of domestic peace for development

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News