Georgian NGOs Stage Protest in Support of Arrested Turkish College Manager


Date posted: June 8, 2017

Thea Morrison

Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) have gathered at the government administration in support of Mustafa Emre Cabuk, one of the managers of the Turkish Demirel College, who was sentenced to three-month pre-extradition detention over alleged links to terrorist organization. As part of their protests they wore handcuffs while pretending to study. They say this is to demonstrate that Cabuk is being unfairly investigated considering he was only engaged in educational activities in Georgia.

The spouse of Emre Cabuk and some students also joined the protesters.

The manager of Demireli College was arrested on May 24. Tbilisi City Court ruled on May 25 that Cabuk would stay in three-month pre-extradition detention. The decision was made the day after an official visit of the Turkish prime minister and cabinet members to Georgia.

Cabuk’s lawyer Soso Baratashvili says that his client is not guilty, and he is accused of having links to the organization FETO, registered in the United States and associated with Fethullah Gulen, who is accused of orchestrating a military coup attempt in Turkey on 15 July, 2016.

Baratashvili is sure that Cabuk was detained at the request of the Turkish government.

Cabuk denies all allegations and says that he has been only carrying out educational activities during his 15-year stay in Georgia.

 

Source: Georgia Today , June 7, 2017


Related News

MHP: Gov’t should not harass its citizens who open Turkish schools abroad

Vural said that if the government does not protect its citizens who are involved in the Turkish schools — which are affiliated with the Hizmet movement, inspired by the teachings of US-based Turkish cleric Fethullah Gülen — but instead complains about them to international governments, questions need to be asked.

What I Saw In Turkey

Everywhere in Turkey, people are talking about the clampdown on the Turkish media. The situation is quite dire. At Samanyolu, a TV station, has 14 broadcast channels in Turkey, English, Arabic and Kurdish and dozens of radio stations and popular news portals. Foreign news chief, Adnan Tokkapi, said its general manager, Hidayet Karaca, has been held in prison without conviction since December 2014.

Top union: Closing prep schools to leave 60,000 jobless

Turkey’s largest business confederation, the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB), has said a government plan to shut down private exam preparatory schools (dershanes) will leave an estimated 60,000 teachers at these institutions jobless while causing financial losses to investors.

When nations spy on their nationals on foreign soil

The targeted Turks have lived in Nigeria for decades, with very high investments profile in the education, health and social sectors of the economy. They are involved in legitimate businesses duly registered and regulated by relevant agencies of government.

Afghan minister praises Turkish schools, calls for more to be built

The Afghan education minister has hailed Turkish schools for their efforts to bring up a bright, new generation in the Afghan nation, calling on Turkish entrepreneurs to open more schools in the country’s provinces.

Opposition asks for parliamentary session on MİT wiretapping

Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen will file a criminal complaint against those responsible for the illegal wiretapping of his phone conversations, Gülen’s lawyer Nurullah Albayrak said in a written statement on Tuesday.
Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) İstanbul deputy Ferit Mevlüt Aslanoğlu called for a parliamentary session to inform the deputies about the technical details of wiretapping.

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

Philanthropy key to peacebuilding and settlement of conflicts

Fethullah Gülen always supported settlement process, lawyer says

US law professor: Gülen extradition would be unlawful

Fethullah Gülen: Erdogan is a Narcissist Dictator, His Main Enemy is Himself

Students from 70 countries share joy of graduating in İstanbul ceremony

PKK’s venomous mouthpiece targets US, Gülen

Open Letter to the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA)

Copyright 2026 Hizmet News