86-year-old Gülen-linked philanthropist arrested on terror (!) charges
Date posted: July 6, 2018
Eighty-six-year-old businessman Celal Afşar was arrested on Thursday along with his daughter, son-in-law and two others in Niğde province as part of an investigation into the faith-based Gülen movement, the tr724 news website reported.
He is known as a philanthropist in his town, with public broadcaster TRT in 2011 depicting his life as an example of dedication to charity.
Afşar was accused of providing financial support to a “terrorist organization.”
Among the arrestees was also the head of the now-closed Kimse Yok Mu charity organization’s Niğde branch.
Turkey survived a coup attempt on July 15, 2016 which the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government accused the Gülen movement of masterminding, although the movement strongly denies it.
According to the latest data released by the Justice Ministry, 203,518 Gülen followers have been investigated in the past five years.
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As many as 40,000 people have been reported to the Ankara Police Department for being followers of the Gülen movement since a failed coup attempt on July 15. Although the movement strongly denies having any role in the corruption probe and the coup attempt, the government accuses it of having masterminded both despite the lack of any tangible evidence.
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In composing his famous tripartite epic poem, The Divine Comedy, Dante Alighieri included in the first part called Inferno, what has since become one of the most meaningful quotes of all time, emphasising that “the hottest places in hell are reserved for those who in times of moral crisis preserve their neutrality.” The quote was made more popular by late American President J.F. Kennedy, who aptly used it very often in 50s and 60s.
Infiltrating or contributing?
None of the academics in attendance reported finding any sign of attempts by movement members to overthrow democracy or even to “grab a bigger share of the pie” for a new elite, shady or otherwise.
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