Time for a reality check for ISNA conventioneers – coup attempt in Turkey


Date posted: September 4, 2016

Scott C. Alexander

Time for a reality check. This weekend many ISNA conventioneers are attending “panels” in which the so-called “Turkish delegation” will continue to attempt to justify the immoral and thoroughly un-Islamic persecution of countless innocent Muslim men and women in Turkey and around the world. While these conventioneers politely applaud the representatives of a regime which is attempting to destroy the lives of many of their fellow Turkish American Muslims right here in the US, here is just one example of what’s happening back in Turkey…

“I am Serap Aşık. I am a teacher in the Afyon district of Turkey. I am in a desperate situation so please help me. On the night of August 25 2016 at around 12am [the police] come to my door shouting “We have a search warrant and detain warrant for Ahmet Aşık (My husband)!” Everybody in the apartment heard the noises. Then rush through our home and they did not even read the prosecutor’s written warrant because the name on the warrant was wrong, it was for a person named Ömer Işık. When I pointed out that the name was wrong, they said it is just a typo and then continued screaming at us. I requested them not to shout since I had a child which I did not want him to be scared. I checked my son seeing my child is ok; I go back to bedroom where the police handcuffed my husband from his back and screaming at him. They did not even allow him to sit. They searched the house while doing so they treated us so badly, in disgrace. After they realized that we have a car they also searched the car, however while searching they make everybody around to know that they are there; shouting, making noises. Meanwhile my husband was standing there with his pajamas on. After searching for the car they let him wear his clothes. They asked me where I work, which I reply that I am working in public school. They said we are going to come back for you soon.

With despair I said “I seek the justice of Allah for those who did this to us,” one police officer heard me and shouted at me “Why don’t you damn the coup plotters, FETO?” I replied of course I have no hesitation about damning coup plotters. I asserted that that we don’t have anything with the coup attempt we did not even know why they come to our house in the first place. I continued saying every government institution should investigate the coup plot and those who have nothing to do with the coup d’état would be able to return to their jobs. I said that we were sure we will be cleared from all investigations because we had nothing they are looking for; even we did not have books of Fethullah Gülen. They said that my husband may be cleared from institutional investigation but for sure he is not going to get away from this investigation.

While handcuffed behind his back he is dragged into police car and they took him to the police station. For 4 days I could not see him and they did not give us any information. At the 4th day, they allowed me to bring some clothes but they kept me at an interrogation room and asked me questions about my husband, threatened me about giving my name to the authorities so that I will be kicked out of my job as teacher as well. Then before bringing my husband to the room they threatened me once again “If you open your mouth and speak any word to your husband we will take you in custody too under the same investigation !” My husband had scars and bruises all around his face he begged them not to go back to detention room. “Give me 50 years in prison but please don’t take me back there” he said.

Police said “if you want to save your husband make him tell us everything he knows”. When we meet there were 4 police officers right beside us constantly threatening and shouting “tell, tell”.

I could not find any attorney; everybody that asked did not want to accept the case. Bar Association will assign an attorney 6 days later. I am in total despair, please help me and help me urgently. I have nobody to ask for help.” – Serap Aşık AFYONKARAHISAR

Source: Facebook , September 3, 2016


Related News

Gülen calls for support to a [presidential] candidate with true integrity

Commenting on the upcoming presidential elections on Sunday, Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen has urged Turks not to cast their vote for a candidate who oppresses citizens, does injustice to them and disregards the rule of law.

SCF Reveals Mass Torture And Abuse In An Unofficial Detention Facility In Turkey’s Capital

“I heard all kinds of curse and swearing against my family during the interrogation. They threatened me with raping my family members. I saw one man who had a black eye on his eyes. I witnessed another man as having difficulty in walking because police shoved a baton into his anus. So many victims have marks in their bodies from abuse and torture.”

Arbitrary intrusions and dangerous liaisons

If the AKP leader can publicize the mistakes made during the Sledgehammer and Ergenekon trials and convince the public that these were committed by overzealous prosecutors linked to the Gülen movement, it will be easy for him to make a comparison with the corruption allegations against his government.

How does PM Erdoğan hurt the liberal pious of Turkey?

Turkey has been vigorously debating the nature of its democracy and popular Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s ruling style, which has increasingly authoritarian tendencies, as never before since the Gezi Park protests in May. From my perspective, the Gezi protests, on which everyone was almost forced to take sides, is a grey area since both the government and the protesters made their share of mistakes.

Erdoğan draws ire from all segments of society over bid to close Turkish schools

Members of opposition parties, prominent businessmen and figures in the education world have severely criticized President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for campaigning for the closure of Turkish schools in African countries that are affiliated with the Gülen movement, also known as the Hizmet movement, inspired by Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, who is a former ally of the president.

Former Turkish President Gül denies having any relationship with the Gülen movement or Fethullah Gülen but history tells…

In his answers, Gül denied having relations with neither the Gülen movement nor Fethullah Gülen. But, history tells the opposite: Gül attended many activities of the Gülen movement; he even hosted, in his official residence, students of Turkish schools from many countries during a Turkish Language and Culture Olympiad.

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

Fethullah Gülen’s Message of Condolences for the El Paso and Dayton Attacks

Parents react to auditor, police raid of Hizmet-inspired school

Zaman newspaper: Turkey police raid press offices in Istanbul

Hrant Topakiyan’s feelings about the Journalists and Writers Foundation

Dialogue and Friendship Dinner Unites Multi-Cultural, Faith Groups

Twitter users protest plan to close prep schools in Turkey

Archbishop Fitzgerald: Fethullah Gülen has inspired many Muslims to be engaged in interfaith dialogue

Copyright 2026 Hizmet News