Turkey denying visas to Kyrgyz students at Gülen schools, families: deputy minister

Kyrgyz nationals who study at the schools affiliated with the Gülen movement as well as their families are being denied visas to Turkey, according to deputy Education Minister Orhan Erdem.

Speaking to a Bursa gathering that was attended by academics from Kyrgyzstan on Friday, Erdem said people that interact with Gülen-linked schools are not welcome in Turkey.

“Please ask your acquaintances, friends and brothers not to go to these terrorists’ schools. Because, it is highly likely that we deny visas to those who study at such schools. We do not even want to see their families in Turkey,” the deputy minister said.

Turkish government accuses the movement of leading the July 15, 2016 coup attempt while the latter denies involvement. All schools, companies, newspapers and any other institutions affiliated the movement were confiscated and more than 120,000 people have been detained over ties to the group since last summer.

Meanwhile, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called on foreign governments to punish Gülen followers in their own countries.

Published on Turkey Purge, 11 August 2017, Friday