Gulen Accuses Erdogan of ‘Hijacking’ Kosovo Deportees


Date posted: April 5, 2018

Fethullah Gulen, the Turkish preacher who has lived in voluntary exile in the US since 1999, on Tuesday criticized the deportation of six Turkish citizens from Kosovo to Turkey in an operation conducted by Turkish state intelligence, likening it to a hijacking.

“We are experiencing turbulent times and we have a calamity over us. Lately, hijackers hijacked people from Kosovo,” Gulen said in a video.

In the same video, he compared Kosovo with Pakistan and Myanmar, where Turkish spy agency have previously conducted similar operations and brought alleged Gulen followers to Turkey.

Gulen did not mention any names in video and did not criticize the Kosovo government.


Exiled Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen has accused Turkish President Erdogan of ‘hijacking’ the Turkish nationals deported recently from Kosovo.


“This is basically hijacking of people, I call them as hijackers but it is not enough … They have hijacked people, they sometimes killed people or left them in the wilderness. My definition of these people might make some people uncomfortable, but it truly is hijacking,” he continued.

The exiled cleric spoke out after Kosovo police on March 19 arrested five employees of Turkish colleges in Kosovo and a Turkish doctor, all allegedly linked to Gulen, who Turkey calls a terrorist. They were deported soon after.

Turkey later said its secret service had conducted the operation in cooperation with Kosovo’s security and intelligence institutions.

However, after Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj complained that the Turks had been deported twithout his knowledge, he axed the director of the Intelligence Agency and the Interior Minister.

The Turkish operation, and Haradinaj’s later decision, triggered a war of words between politicians from the two countries.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused the Kosovo Prime Minister of wanting to protect “terrorists”.

Haradinaj responded in an interview at the Voice of America in which he said that he does not understand the reactions of the Turkish President, adding that no one from outside Kosovo can make decisions on Kosovo’s internal affairs.

Haradinaj said he did not want to prejudge who ordered the arrests and deportation, which according to him was like abducting people from Kosovo.

“The reactions of the President [Erdogan] are not understandable to me. We do not interfere in Turkey’s internal affairs, these are our internal affairs and no one will make decisions on Kosovo’s internal affairs,” Haradinaj said.

Ankara has accused Gulen of orchestrating a failed coup in Turkey on July 15, 2016. It describes his supporters as the “Fethullahist Terrorist Organisation” or “FETO” for short.

Gulen has denied any links to the failed coup and has asked an international commission to investigate the coup attempt.

 

Source: Balkan Insight , April 4, 2018


Related News

Islamic scholars convene at ijtihad symposium in İstanbul

Around 100 Islamic scholars from many parts of the world gathered at İstanbul Congress Center at ijtihad conference organized by Yeni ümit and Hira Magazines.

GYV discusses respect for sacred values at UN panel

The Journalists and Writers Foundation (GYV) held a panel on Saturday on “Respect for Sacred Values” at the United Nations’ Geneva headquarters. Many academics and diplomats showed great interest in the panel, which was held as the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) conducted its annual meetings in Geneva.

Hizmet movement demonized by Erdogan regime but loved abroad

South Africa is a good example of a country that has not been pressured into adopting the narrative touted by the Turkish government. Local politicians, students and academics regularly acknowledge the Hizmet Movement’s altruistic activities in the country.

Leaked photo shows 11 hijabi women, 2 babies in Bursa prison on terror, coup charges

The women are accused of having a membership in the Gülen movement, accused by the Turkish authorities to mastermind a coup attempt on July 15, 2016. The movement denies any involvement.

THY passengers strongly criticize embargo on Today’s Zaman

Turkey’s flagship carrier Turkish Airlines began an embargo on Dec. 23, 2013 on the distribution of the newspapers Zaman, Today’s Zaman, Bugün and Ortadoğu to business class passengers on its planes, without providing an explanation. Other dailies are still being handed out on board.

African queen promises to give support to Turkish schools

Queen Ntombi Twala of Swaziland received a group of teachers from Turkish schools and businesspeople, affiliated with the Hizmet Movement, at her palace. “Success of the schools you established pleased me a lot. If you open such schools in our country, my people will benefit from them,” said Ntombi adding that she promise to support schools which will be opened in her country.

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

Crackdown on journalists leaves void in post-coup Turkey

Defamation- Pro-Erdoğan daily claims Gülen movement converted 500,000 to Christianity in Kazakhstan

Failure of political Islamists in Turkey

Paralyzed by ill-treatment in Sivas prison, Turkish police officer dies at 33

Grand stage shows by Turkish Olympiad students enthrall İzmir locals

Kimse Yok Mu soup kitchen to serve weekly hot meal in Somalia

Turkish NGO in Cambodia Denies Links to Terror

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News