I was first introduced to the Fethullah Gülen-inspired schools when I visited them as a journalist while following trips abroad by former President Süleyman Demirel.
Since then I have been wondering why the Turkish state is reluctant to make use of such a great opportunity. By “state” I do not intend merely the government. The judiciary and the military organs of the state have biases against Gülen and his “movement” — a description now acceptable to the followers of this movement. In politics, perceptions may play more vital roles than realities. The secularist perception of Gülen has been heavily influenced by such biases. Here is one example: After his appointment as the new chief of general staff, Gen. İlker Başbuğ launched a new media policy and removed some accreditation restrictions. However, the Zaman daily, the Gülen movement’s flagship media organ, was still not accredited. For the military, this group was trying to show itself as more powerful than it really is.
International festival of language and culture held in Ulaanbaatar
Organized by the International Turkish Language Association for the second time, the fest introduced cultures of Brazil, China, France, Germany, Japan, Philippines, Turkey and United Kingdom.
Turkey’s Global Anti-Gülen Crusade Puts Tbilisi in Diplomatic Bind
Mustafa Emre Çabuk is out of prison but not out of trouble. The Turkish national, who for the past 15 years ran a Gülen school in the Georgian capital, Tblisi, is the latest international educator caught up in Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s anti-Gülenist campaign.
Turkish school in Philippines partners in a social project
The project aims to rehabilitate the regions academically and socially lagging behind the rest and assist children’s education in particular. Inaugurating the project, an event took place seeing the attendance of International Fountain Schools general manager Malik Gencer, The Philippines Turkish Chamber of Commerce Irfan Karabulut, Pacific Dialog’s president for Philippines Cihangir Arslan and The Philippine Gendarmerie’s commander for civic operations Colonel Arnulfo Marcelo B. Burgos alongside numerous commanders and NGO officials.
Parents criticize gov’t-led police raids on educational institutions
A number of parents staged a protest on Friday against raids police carried out by the police on Thursday as part of a government-led operation against 26 private schools and educational institutions in Kahramanmaraş province that are inspired by the Gülen movement, a faith-based civil society movement inspired by Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen.
Row between Turkish government and Gulen Movement takes new twist
The row between Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and Fethullah Gulen’s Hizmet Movement, one of the most influential religious communities in the country, has taken an interesting twist after the revelation of a 2004 document. In 2004, the National Security Council proposed a clampdown on the Gulen movement (aka Hizmet), which suggested that harsh sanctions should be enforced on them.
Kurdistan Regional Gov’t: Gulen-inspired schools will not be closed
There are 20 schools serving to 12,719 students in Northern Iraq Kurdish Region. Kurdistan Regional Government announced that the 20 schools affiliated with the Gulen movement will not be shut down. There were rumors in the media, in the aftermath of the coup attempt on July 15, about the closure of the Gulen inspired schools.
Latest News
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
After Reunion: A Quiet Transformation Within the Hizmet Movement
Erdogan’s Failed Crusade: The World Rejects His War on Hizmet
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
In Case You Missed It
Trip to Turkey leaves a lasting impression
Filipino-Turkish School of Tolerance Donates Beef in Feast of Sacrifice
Turkey’s Brain Drain and the Disappearing Academic Freedom
Doesn’t Obama know Gülen is in the US?
Erdogan’s bid to close Gulen schools in Africa opposed
Muslim Leader Condemns Synagogue Killings
Another AK Party deputy, Muhammed Çetin, resigns in protest
