Foreign Minister Babacan visits Turkish school in Dakar


Date posted: March 14, 2008

Foreign Minister Ali Babacan paid a visit yesterday to the Turkish school Yavuz Selim in the Senegalese capital of Dakar, on the sidelines of a foreign ministerial-level meeting of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC).

Speaking to the Anatolia news agency, Babacan said Turkey must have a presence in all African countries. “Some people criticize us on this matter; but we should not think ‘What does Turkey have to do with these places?'”Babacan’s wife, Zeynep Babacan, accompanied the minister yesterday morning during his visit to Gora Island, the location of a port from which slaves were once sent to America. The couple then visited Yavuz Selim High School, one of the four Turkish schools in Senegal.

Babacan spoke with the 170 students at the high school during his visit. He stated that the percentage of students (of this school) who succeed in gaining entrance to university is 99 percent, adding that Yavuz Selim is known as a distinguished school throughout Senegal.

Meanwhile, the school administration also held a ceremony in Turkish. Delivering a speech at the ceremony, Babacan emphasized: “Students of this school will establish a bridge between Turkey and Senegal, and both countries will benefit from it. The [Turkish] NGOs also do significant work here.”

In addition, the principal of the school, Adnan Demir, delivered a speech at the ceremony. “Here we follow the path opened by Turkish politicians and support Turkey’s vision by our efforts. We also established courses in Turkish, and our students began speaking Turkish in just one week.”

Source: Today’s Zaman 13 March 2008

Tags: Hizmet Schools, Senegal, Africa

 

Tags: | | | |


Related News

Albanian parliament speaker visits Turkish school after Erdoğan calls for its closure

Albania’s Parliament Speaker Ilir Meta visited a Turkish school in the capital tirana on Friday to send a message to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who called for the closure of Turkish schools in Albania during his visit last week, stirring debate among Albanian politicians and journalists, an Albanian daily wrote on Sunday.

Where is Turkey going? (2)

Gülen movement supports a critical approach as a fundamental aspect of knowledge and faith. Furthermore, it considers science and mathematics to be especially necessary to a devout Muslim fulfilling his religious and civil duties and to improve the economic situation of his family and community.

Executives of TUSKON call on Ghana GCCI

Turkey is to strengthen her business relationship with Ghana and considers the Ghana Chamber of Commerce and Industry as the conduit. This was disclosed by the Executives of the key Turkish business group, the Turkish Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists (TUSKON) when they paid a courtesy call on the Ghana Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) on 10th September, 2014.

World-famous Hafiz Naina: Turkish Schools serve humanity

The world-famous Egyptian hafiz, Dr. Ahmed Naina said the Turkish schools inspired by Fethullah Gulen are serving humanity worldwide. Noting that he visits Turkish schools in every country he travels, Naina said, “I cut the ribbon on the Turkish school in Egypt. May Allah be pleased with those initiating these services.” Naina recited Qur’an at the event held […]

Once lauded as model, Turkey’s Africa initiative loses momentum

One of the main reasons behind the loss of momentum in Turkey’s once-intense efforts to boost relations with African states is the Turkish government’s effort to win domestic battles at any cost. In one such attempt, the Turkish government started to work on a plan to get states to close down Turkish schools abroad that are affiliated with the Hizmet movement, which is inspired by the teachings of Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen and known as one of Turkey’s most important soft-power instruments.

Erdogan and Gulen: Inevitable Clash?

Unlike Turkey’s classical Islamic activists, Gulen always distanced himself from politics, and like Said Nursi, his main source of inspiration, his message was focused on grassroots social activism, most importantly an education combining both Islam and modern science. Hizmet’s main goal was social: raising a new “golden” generation fusing moderate Muslim and Modern ethics to become the backbone of Turkey’s society and bureaucracy and its messengers to the world.

Latest News

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

Ankara systematically tortures supporters of Gülen movement, Kurds, Turkey Tribunal rapporteurs say

Erdogan possessed by Pharaoh, Herod, Hitler spirits?

Devious Use of International Organizations to Persecute Dissidents Abroad: The Erdogan Case

A “Controlled Coup”: Erdogan’s Contribution to the Autocrats’ Playbook

Why is Turkey’s Erdogan persecuting the Gulen movement?

Purge-victim man sent back to prison over Gulen links despite stage 4 cancer diagnosis

In Case You Missed It

Turkish PM Erdoğan’s chain of mistakes

Turkish school to train Brazil’s math geniuses

Sabotage: government-Gülen movement relations

Conspiracy theory par excellence [against Gülen movement]

Turkish entrepreneurs open university in Bucharest

Why is Erdoğan hostile to Turkish schools?

Turkish, Armenian students foster coexistence with exemplary project

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News