Governor’s office leads raid against Gülen inspired school based on annulled law


Date posted: October 19, 2015

MEHMET KURU / ESKISEHIR

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.

The Lawyer, Selamet Şen, representing the schools told Today’s Zaman that when the aforementioned schools were inspected on July 30 and 31 with the presence of policemen, he filed a question to the Eskişehir Governor’s Office seeking justification for the inspections. In an official document sent to Şen, the governor’s office referred to the Article 10/E of the Law No. 5442. However, it was later revealed that the law in reference was annulled in 2008.

When the issue went public through the media, the Eskişehir Governor’s Office sent Şen another letter saying that the annulled law was mistakenly written in the inspection warrant, this time referring to Article 11/E of the same law. Şen argues that the police operations against the schools he represents are still unlawful as they were conducted with the instructions of the governor’s office.

Referring to Article 3 of Law No. 5580, Şen says that all training and education activities in Turkey are subjected to the permission and the inspection of the Ministry of Education; thus, the order of inspection issued by the governor’s office is unlawful. Şen said he was preparing to file a criminal complaint against the misconduct in office.

The Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government has for a while been organizing police raids against schools and civil society organizations inspired by the Gülen movement, under the guise of inspections. Calling it an illegal movement, yet without being able to present any valid evidence for this claim whatsoever, the AK Party tries to defame the movement and drive people away from it. However, time has proven that those who admire the Gülen movement’s worldwide efforts of promoting peace and tolerance through multicultural and multi-faith dialog have remained loyal to it and have maintained a strong stance against the unlawful government oppression.

Source: Today's Zaman , October 18, 2015


Related News

State discrimination against Hizmet movement sympathizers

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government is aiming to take all steps to finish off Hizmet movement sympathizers by any means. Discrimination is one of these steps. Discrimination is a human rights violation. I would like to share five of my personal experiences, of many more, to show what kind of discrimination is being committed against the movement’s sympathizers.

Turkey: Effort to Force Closure of Gülen Schools Falling Flat in Eurasia

The situation in Georgia illustrates the challenge for Turkish diplomats. A few days after the July 15 coup attempt, a translation of a TV interview began circulating that featured Yasin Temizkan, Turkey’s consul in the city of Batumi. In the interview, Temizkan urged the Georgian government to close the local Refaiddin Şahin Friendship School, a private institution considered part of the Gülen network. The justification, Temizkan said, was that the school was “serving terrorist groups.”

Dialog High School wins top prize

Gymnasium und Realschule Dialog, located in Koln, Germany, got the first place with its podcast project among hundreds of schools in the “Schools design the future” contest by Sparda Bank. The school was awarded €10 thousand as the top winner. The top 19 schools received their awards in a ceremony at Sparda Bank’s Köln Breslauer Platz location.

Don’t draw us into your family fight: Washington

The United States has told Ankara it has no any intention of getting involved into what it calls “a family fight,” denying conspiracy theories suggesting Washington’s role in the ongoing struggle between the government and the powerful Gülen community that has exploded with a new corruption probe. “Please don’t draw us into your family fight here. We don’t want one side or the other to feed this conspiracy idea that we are against the prime minister or against Fethullah Gülen Hocaefendi,”

Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan Reject Turkish Calls to Close Gülen Schools

Kazakh authorities said the Gülen schools would remain open. In a statement, the Education Ministry said “These schools (27) will be working as they used to.” The schools were established through a bilateral deal signed by Kazakh president Nursultan Nazarbayev and then-Turkish President Turgut Özal shortly after independence, according to Akipress. Both Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan are remaining firm that they will not bend to Ankara’s will on this issue.

No secularism or democracy without religious freedom

The gentleman gently said: “However, dear Mr. Alpay, it was clear from the beginning that the AKP had a hidden agenda. But pundits like yourself conveyed a highly positive picture of the AKP government both at home and abroad. You have a responsibility in the situation we find ourselves today.”

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

Exit from a well 1,915 meters deep

Turkey seizes another baklava maker over coup charges, appoints deputy governor as caretaker

Erdoğan rewards the killers of Gülenists

Global event held to foster harmony

Mr. Fethullah Gülen’s interview for Moskovskiy Komsomolets newspaper

In A Letter, A Jailed Woman Reveals Abuse And Ill-Treatment In Turkish Prison

Medical professionals sponsor water wells in Africa

Copyright 2026 Hizmet News