Why Gulen-sympathizers with their babies risk death to flee Erdogan regime


Date posted: July 31, 2018

HizmetNews.Com

Washington D.C.-based journalist Mahir Zeynalov, who himself is victim of Erdogan’s oppression, explained in his tweets why Gulen-sympathizer Turks flee current regime of Turkey risking their own and kids’ and lives:

“There is a reason why Turks risk death to flee with their babies. It’s not that they are looking for a better life. They are fleeing torture and life imprisonment.

These are not criminals. They are teachers, doctors, IT specialists, journalists, professors. Women, elderly, babies. All of them are banned from working in bureaucracy. Their universities, newspapers, bakeries were shut down.

Their names (nearly 200,000 of them) are openly published in Official Gazzette as terrorists so no one would give them a job. Some employers exploit their labor with salaries that are 10 times less than the average.

Even three babies who died yesterday were denied funeral cars because they were “terrorists.”

Even the Turkish Justice Minister said being purged or fired from their jobs doesn’t mean that these people are criminals.

Victims of the post-coup purge in Turkey launched a painful legal battle, going all the way up to the top court. They were all denied.

Then they decided to go to the European Court. The court in Strasbourg said “go back home. You can seek legal remedies in Turkey.” Denied again.

No jobs in Turkey. Totally blacklisted. If you’re lucky, you won’t be imprisoned. The government also banned these victims from traveling abroad and seized their passports.

What choice do they have? Get on dinghy boats, flee Turkey for Greece and die while trying. If they are lucky to be on the news, this is how they are remembered: SIX TERRORISTS, INCLUDING THREE BABIES, DROWN IN AEGEAN.”

 


Related News

Gov’t reshuffling justice system to punish Hizmet

The Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government, in what many consider an attempt to take revenge on the faith-based Hizmet movement, has been reworking the justice system in Turkey — shutting down certain courts, establishing new ones and quickly assigning some prosecutors and judges to deal with certain cases — which is diametrically opposed to the principles of law.

The Gülen Movement: a modern expression of Turkish Islam – Interview with Hakan Yavuz

In a way, they [the Gülen movement] represent a new model of Islam in Turkey, at peace with democracy and modernity. This also reflects the Anatolian understanding of Islam, i.e. the Sufi conception of morality is at the centre of the movement. I would consider it as a movement based on the re-imagining of Islam and consisting of loose networks under the guidance and leadership of Fetullah Gülen.

Turkey’s Gulen Demand – The U.S. shouldn’t extradite the exiled Turk without better evidence

Turkey is demanding that the U.S. extradite Fethullah Gulen whom Ankara accuses of orchestrating this month’s failed military coup. “The evidence is crystal clear,” PM Yildirim told the Journal Tuesday, adding that Washington’s request for evidence of Mr. Gulen’s guilt is superfluous “when 265 people have been killed.” If that’s Mr. Yildirim’s standard of proof, Washington should deny the request.

Bank Asya sells stakes in 2 subsidiaries

In a statement to Borsa İstanbul (BIST), Bank Asya said it is selling a 24.18 percent stake in Turkish construction firm Tuna Gayrimenkul for TL 62.8 million. The bank also said it is selling another construction company, Nil Yönetim Hizmetleri, for TL 69.25 million.

Individuals can force change

Instead of Erdoğan’s accusations that the Hizmet movement had plotted to unseat his government, couldn’t it have been a handful of good men and women within the bureaucracy, i.e., the judiciary and the police, who leaked the investigation documents on Dec. 17 to the public to prevent these crimes from being covered up?

Turkey Faces Its Iran 1979 Moment

Turkey is at a pivotal point in its history following the failed coup attempt of July 15. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, having survived the coup plot, won fresh legitimacy and gained a new ally: religious fervor in the streets. Mr. Erdogan can use this impetus either to become an executive-style president, or he can encourage the forces of religion to take over the country, crowning himself as an Islamic leader.

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

Turkey’s tryst with democracy (1)

Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen gives first TV interview in 16 years

Erdogan’s critics in Germany living in fear of his long arm

The gravest-ever smear

Turkish humanitarian NGO has cured 30,000 cataract sufferers

Somalia agrees Turkey’s anti-Gülen crackdown, Kenya, Germany and Indonesia resist

EP discusses transparency call for Hizmet

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News