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.
Nigerian govt reacts to planned deportation of 1000 Turks
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama has refuted reports that 1,000 Turks will be extradited from Nigeria on the request of the Turkish government. Onyeama assured all foreign nationals, including Turks resident in the country legally, of full protection under Nigerian and International Laws.
Governor’s office leads raid against Gülen inspired school based on annulled law
The Eskişehir Governor’s Office has stated that an annulled law was mistakenly used in the inspection warrants for Samanyolu Primary School and its high school as well as for a FEM prep school in the province, showing how carelessly the government-orchestrated operations are being carried out against the faith-based Gülen movement, also known as the Hizmet movement.
Turkish school graduates in Bosnia now teachers at alma maters
Ten graduates of Turkish schools in Bosnia, which were opened right after the Bosnian war and are among the top educational institutions in the country, are now working as teachers at the schools they attended as students, the Anatolia news agency has reported.
Malian minister praises Turkish schools for persevering through war
Malian Culture Minister Bruno Maiga has praised Turkish schools, saying only they amongst foreign schools did not leave Mali when a civil war broke out in the country, which has been fighting against rebels in a French-led offensive for four months. The Malian minister spoke during an event held for the elimination round of the […]
AK Party Deputy Hakan Şükür resigns due to hostile moves against Hizmet movement
Hakan Şükür, a Turkish member of parliament and former international football player, quit Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s ruling party on Monday in protest at a government plan to shut down prep schools, revealing underlying intra-party squabbles. İstanbul MP Şükür said he was personally offended by what he called “hostile moves” against the Hizmet movement led by Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen.
Mongolia’s Elite Schools sponsor reading halls at pediatric hospital
The Turkish-initiated Elite International Schools in Mongolia provided a state pediatric hospital at the capital city Ulaanbaatar with new reading halls for its young residents. At the ribbon cutting ceremony were the schools’ officials, students and hospital authorities along with the local press.
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