Turkish family detained in Qatar as Erdogan steps up crackdown on Gulenists abroad

Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani
Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani


Date posted: June 12, 2017

Qatari police detained five members of a Turkish family who are linked to the faith-based Gülen movement while the family was on their way to South Africa, the yenihamle.com news website reported on Monday.

The detainees are members of the Bayındır family, businessman father Muhammed, mother Fadime and daughters Eslem, Kübra and Feyza.

The members of the Turkish family were detained while they were at the airport in Doha waiting for a connecting flight to South Africa.

This is not the first time a foreign country has detained or deported people over their links to the Gülen movement as part of the Turkish government’s witch-hunt against movement followers.

In May Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Georgia and Myanmar handed over academics, businessmen and school principals upon the Turkish government’s request despite the fact that some of those victims already had refugee status with the UN.

Turkey survived a military coup attempt on July 15 that killed over 240 people and wounded more than a thousand others. After the putsch, the government along with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan accused the Gülen movement of masterminding the attempt.

The movement and Fethullah Gülen, a US-based Islamic scholar whose views inspired the movement, strongly denies any involvement.

President Erdoğan earlier called on foreign governments to punish Gülen followers in their own countries.

Source: Turkish Minute , June 12, 2017


Related News

Police raid house of 96-year-old philanthropist in İzmir

Police raided the house of 96-year-old Mustafa Şık, a prominent philanthropist, in İzmir on Friday as part of a government-initiated “witch hunt” operation targeting the faith-based Gülen movement.

Dozens of the anti-Gülen and anti-Gülen Movement books on the shelves

24 July 2011 / Today’s Zaman Below news was published almost a year ago to list the books written against Gulen. Mr. Fethullah Gulen, for about a year, has been accused of getting some writers jailed because of the books they wrote. However, some columnists have been writing against him for more than 30 years […]

Fethullah Gulen Suggests Nonviolent Options to Young Activists

Fethullan Gulen suggests some ways to the young activist group that are not based on violence and that are for peace. I think it’s necessary to understand the significance of education and school projects in particular. I try to express this in my articles. Akman: Why are you more interested in sociology of religion? Ozdalga*: […]

I am concerned: Erdoğan and elections

Current developments are disturbing. It does not take an oracle to guess that when the elections get even closer, the country will move further towards insanity if Erdoğan does not change his stance on a number of issues and cease his ferocious rhetorical tactic of designating every critic a traitor. Hrant Dink was assassinated as a result of such a campaign of hate.

Der Spiegel: Turkish consulate officials involved in spying activities not only in Germany

“The espionage agents around the Turkish religious authorities go beyond Germany,” the article read adding that “not only were the names of persons transmitted” but also activities by the Gülen movement-affiliated schools, day-care centers, cultural and student associations reported to Turkey.

Hakan Şükür’s resignation: Rebellion of a conscience

Take a look at his wedding photo: on one side of a table is Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen and on the other is Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. That photo reflects the feelings of millions. Şükür’s resignation is a sign that to him, that photo was torn up. If the government continues to keep up its hostile attitude against the Hizmet movement led by Gülen, millions will experience the same feeling. The real risk is here.

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

Renewing Islam by Service: A Christian View of Fethullah Gulen with Pim Valkenberg

Smear campaign websites cleared while targeted journalists accused

Turkey’s AKP planning to blame Hizmet movement for Deep State’s crimes

Gulen: Erdogan will end up like Hitler and Stalin

London-Based Turkish Academic To Run 10,000 Meters To Raise Fund For Purge Victims In Turkey

Teacher detained in Turkey after forced return from Myanmar

Turkish school shelters locals in earthquake-hit Nepal

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News