August 11, 2014

'Hizmet will continue its mission regardless of attacks'

Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, who, along with the faith-based Hizmet movement, has been subjected to numerous attacks from Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has said the movement will continue to perform its mission regardless of circumstances.

President Erdoğan and the new Turkey

Robert Ellis*

After an unpleasant electoral campaign, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has succeeded in becoming Turkey's 12th president with almost 52 percent of the votes in the first round held on Aug. 10. A referendum in 2007 made it possible for the first time to elect the president with a direct vote.

Erdoğan's presidency to stir more controversy

Abdullah Bozkurt

The election of divisive politician Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as president of Turkey in Sunday's election with a slim margin above the required majority is a harbinger of a new era where constitutional, political and social crises loom large on the horizon.

Bolu municipality builds road inside Fatih College's garden

The Bolu Municipality, having previously closed down two schools belonging to businesspeople affiliated with the faith-based Hizmet movement in early July, has now constructed a road inside the garden of Fatih College despite the fact that the school is surrounded by empty plots of land and no residential area exists around the school.

Government's Bank Asya operation brought to parliamentary agenda

Reactions are snowballing against the government's operation to force the closure of the participation bank Bank Asya as part of its fight against the Hizmet movement, with the matter brought to Parliament's agenda in the form of a parliamentary question from the Republican People's Party (CHP).

Man killed in Yalova over sympathy for Hizmet movement

A 35-year-old man has been killed in Yalova province by a drug addict on the grounds that the victim was a follower of the faith-based Hizmet movement, against which the government of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has declared battle since last year, and because he was a critic of Erdoğan.