June 15, 2016

Trustees appointed to association of Selahaddin Eyyubi University in gov’t-led move

Trustees have been appointed to take over the management of a foundation, which established the Selahaddin Eyyubi University in Diyarbakır, in what is the latest in a series of government moves against the sympathizers of the Gülen movement.

Four trustees, two lawyers and two financial advisors, were appointed to the İhtiyat Education, Culture and Health Association in government-led move.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government launched an all-out war against the Gülen movement, after a corruption investigation targeting people in Erdoğan’s inner circle became public with a wave of detentions on Dec. 17, 2013.

Erdoğan accused police officers, judges and prosecutors he claimed are linked with Gülen movement, which is inspired by Turkish-Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, of being behind the investigation, which he branded as a “coup attempt.”

The movement strongly denies the allegations brought against it.

The move to appoint trustees comes amidst escalating government pressure on sympathizers of the Gülen movement as well as business groups, hospitals and schools affiliated with it.

Trustees were also appointed to Şifa University, Bursa Orhangazi University, Mevlana University and the Health and Treatment Foundation that established the private Fatih University.

Tahsin Yeşildere, head of the University Instructors’ Association (ÜNİVDER), recently said that the appointment of trustees to foundations that established private universities is ‘alarming’.

Published on Turkish Minute, 15 June 2016, Wednesday

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