Turkey's leading business conglomerate has denied reports of mass resignations following a recent corruption scandal, vowing to sue pro-government Yeni Şafak for fabricating false information.
May 1, 2014
April 30, 2014
Dialogue advocacy group 'disturbed' by Erdoğan's harassment of Hizmet
The Alliance for Shared Values, an advocacy body that serves as a voice for organizations affiliated with the Hizmet movement in the US, has said it is "deeply disturbed" by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's what it said "politically motivated attempts" to crack down on law-abiding citizens.
Gülen's lawyer denies client facing arrest warrant or extradition
Nurullah Albayrak, lawyer for Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, has said that there is no criminal investigation, pending prosecution or any other judicial process ongoing in Turkey related to his client, refuting claims raised once again by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan about Gülen's possible extradition from the US, where he now lives.
Gülen’s German collaborator, or the German slap?
Burak Bekdil
“The common mission of all constitutional courts across the world is to protect and ensure human dignity, without discriminating against anyone on the basis of race, color, religion or faith. Protecting this value is fundamentally the primary task of the legislative and the executive, while the judiciary is the last instance that can repair human rights violations.
“The common mission of all constitutional courts across the world is to protect and ensure human dignity, without discriminating against anyone on the basis of race, color, religion or faith. Protecting this value is fundamentally the primary task of the legislative and the executive, while the judiciary is the last instance that can repair human rights violations.
April 29, 2014
Proof of the 'parallel state'
Mümtazer Türköne
The prime minister's case is similar to that of the "Boy who cried wolf." It is the famous Aesop's fable about a boy who deceived villagers a few times but lost his credibility after his lies were discovered. Thus, in the face of a real threat, he was unable to make anyone believe him. Before large crowds of people, the prime minister made big claims. He said he would back up his claims shortly but still cannot prove them after a long time.
The prime minister's case is similar to that of the "Boy who cried wolf." It is the famous Aesop's fable about a boy who deceived villagers a few times but lost his credibility after his lies were discovered. Thus, in the face of a real threat, he was unable to make anyone believe him. Before large crowds of people, the prime minister made big claims. He said he would back up his claims shortly but still cannot prove them after a long time.
Pro-gov't AHaber labels German president Hizmet's imam
AHaber Tv, one of the government's several media outlets, labeled German President Joachim Gauck the Hizmet movement's imam in an article published on Tuesday.
Clash of the Anatolian tigers
Pinar Tremblay*
In the post-election climate, fears of the Gulen movement seem validated as we observe a gradual, yet drastic shift in the Turkish business alignment map. On April 23, the Capital Markets Board stopped Bank Asia from issuing sukuk (Islamic finance certificate bond) debt. Bloomberg reported on April 26, "The Turkish lender in partnership talks with Qatar Islamic Bank must ask the regulator for permission to issue further sukuk under a 1.25 billion lira ($587 million) debt program.” Asia Bank, the lender, is a member of TUSKON, the Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists of Turkey, known for its close association with the Gulen movement.
In the post-election climate, fears of the Gulen movement seem validated as we observe a gradual, yet drastic shift in the Turkish business alignment map. On April 23, the Capital Markets Board stopped Bank Asia from issuing sukuk (Islamic finance certificate bond) debt. Bloomberg reported on April 26, "The Turkish lender in partnership talks with Qatar Islamic Bank must ask the regulator for permission to issue further sukuk under a 1.25 billion lira ($587 million) debt program.” Asia Bank, the lender, is a member of TUSKON, the Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists of Turkey, known for its close association with the Gulen movement.
‘Parallel’ fear changes capital market body’s name
A vast operation launched against supporters of Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen has caused a capital market association to change its English abbreviation out of fear of being associated with Gülen’s Cemaat (Community).
April 28, 2014
Russia selects finalists for 12th Turkish Olympiad
The elimination round of the Turkish Olympiad in Russia has been held in a prestigious concert hall where around 300 students showed their skills in the categories of poem recitation, singing, reading and writing.
Turkey's tryst with democracy (2)
Anwar Alam*
The non-emergence of democracy as national value also lies in the ways the Turkish elite imagined (historically speaking) the success of Europe and sought to construct or reform its polity.
The non-emergence of democracy as national value also lies in the ways the Turkish elite imagined (historically speaking) the success of Europe and sought to construct or reform its polity.
Tape politics
Ekrem Dumanlı
There are frequent claims that there is a secret recording of someone and that this recording is being used by the so-called parallel structure. And these are made publicly. Previously, similar remarks were made about some politicians, media bosses and even the president. The argument was that there were recordings of these figures and that these tapes were being kept secretly.
There are frequent claims that there is a secret recording of someone and that this recording is being used by the so-called parallel structure. And these are made publicly. Previously, similar remarks were made about some politicians, media bosses and even the president. The argument was that there were recordings of these figures and that these tapes were being kept secretly.
The fall of democracy and predicament of political Islam in Turkey
Begüm Burak
The Feb. 28 process in 1997, which has been defined as a “post-modern coup” in the history of Turkish politics, opened a brand new chapter for both the internal and external affairs of the Turkish state. The birth of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) in the aftermath of the 1997 coup and the argument of founder of the party Recep Tayyip Erdoğan that the AK Party cadre does not wear the shirt of political Islam anymore have changed Turkish politics in a radical way.
The Feb. 28 process in 1997, which has been defined as a “post-modern coup” in the history of Turkish politics, opened a brand new chapter for both the internal and external affairs of the Turkish state. The birth of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) in the aftermath of the 1997 coup and the argument of founder of the party Recep Tayyip Erdoğan that the AK Party cadre does not wear the shirt of political Islam anymore have changed Turkish politics in a radical way.
Police officer reassigned for attending dershane picnic
The Interior Ministry has reassigned police officer H.D., who worked at the National Police Department's Anti-terrorism Unit in Ankara, on the grounds that he and his child attended a picnic organized by a dershane (private preparatory school) affiliated with the faith-based Hizmet movement.
April 27, 2014
Turkey's tryst with democracy (1)
Anwar Alam*
Turkey's tryst and predicament with political modernity, which started with the Tanzimat (Reformation) Era of 1839-1876 and developed more vigorously in the form of the Kemalist revolution in the early 1920s, continue to be illusory, notwithstanding substantial progress that has been made.
Turkey's tryst and predicament with political modernity, which started with the Tanzimat (Reformation) Era of 1839-1876 and developed more vigorously in the form of the Kemalist revolution in the early 1920s, continue to be illusory, notwithstanding substantial progress that has been made.
The story of the government media's smear campaign against Hizmet
The pro-government media have been the main actors in ongoing efforts to cover up graft allegations against the government by turning the Hizmet movement and civil servants trying to do their jobs into a target.
Alienating Turkey
Orhan Oğuz Gürbüz
Turkey was expecting steps towards normalization in society following the mayoral elections. However, it seems that the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government has decided to escalate tension in the run-up to the presidential election scheduled to take place in August.
Turkey was expecting steps towards normalization in society following the mayoral elections. However, it seems that the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government has decided to escalate tension in the run-up to the presidential election scheduled to take place in August.
April 26, 2014
Review of Dogan Koc’s Strategic Defamation of Fethullah Gulen: English vs. Turkish
A domestic political scandal that erupted in Turkey in mid-December (2013) has once again put the country in the global headlines. This time, unfortunately, the news is rather grim. The corruption allegations and controversies over so-called “parallel structures” have not only called into question Turkey’s international prestige but also triggered arguably the largest internal social unrest in decades. The tension continues to escalate as the government’s unpopular moves threaten the system of checks and balances and persistently target civil society initiatives. It seems that while the rest of the world is desperately searching for solutions to global socioeconomic challenges and means to avoid the beak out of the Third World War in Ukraine, the Turkish government has made its own priority to impair indigenous civic enterprise and crack down on the Gulen movement.
April 25, 2014
Judge says judiciary still under tutelage, implies gov't responsible
In what is seen as a significant challenge to the government, Constitutional Court President Haşim Kılıç has said the judiciary in Turkey is under a “new form of tutelage,” implying that the government is behind the tutelage.
Egypt's Turkish schools reject Akşam and A Haber TV reports
The administration of the Turkish Salahaldin International Schools based in Egypt has sent a correction to the Akşam daily and A Haber TV station, stating that two recent reports about Turkish schools in Egypt appearing in the pro-government media outlets were baseless and false.
Claims about TİB plot to libel Hizmet spark massive reaction
Jurists and politicians reacted harshly to a claim in an email by an anonymous whistleblower from the Telecommunications Directorate (TİB), the agency responsible for carrying out legal wiretaps, that there is a conspiracy to bring the Hizmet movement under suspicion of infiltrating TİB.
April 24, 2014
'TİB conspired to libel Hizmet, tampered with system logs'
An anonymous whistleblower from the Telecommunications Directorate (TİB), the agency responsible for carrying out legal wiretaps, sent an email to newspapers and TV stations on Tuesday claiming that there is a conspiracy to bring the Hizmet movement under suspicion of infiltrating the TİB.
Hizmet Movement’s contributions to multiculturalism and global peace
The Hizmet movement began in the 1970s in Turkey to improve education and grew into a global civic movement which encourages interfaith and intercultural dialogue. It is inspired by the ideas of Fethullah Gulen, who Foreign Policy magazine listed as the “World’s top intellectual.” Gulen a scholar, educator and author who advocates a moderate brand of Islam, is best known for his quote: “A terrorist cannot be a Muslim, nor can a true Muslim be a terrorist.” He says that “Extremism will be curbed and tolerance will be promoted by education.”
April 23, 2014
Almost all experienced counter-terrorism officers removed in Diyarbakır
Some 490 police officers working in the counter-terrorism units of police departments in the southeastern province of Diyarbakır were removed from their posts earlier this week, and there are currently no experienced counter-terrorism police officers left in the province.
Erdoğan admits recording with son features his voice
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has publicly admitted that a leaked voice recording that had been alleged to be a conversation between Erdoğan and his son is authentic.
Hizmet in Context: Societal Islam versus Political Islam
Sabine Dreher*
The movement discussed here is according to Ebaugh (2010) a civic movement rooted in Islam that is independent from the state. Others see it simply as a faith-based movement (Esposito and Yilmaz 2010). Agai (2004) describes it as an education network and Hendrick (2009) as a global pressure group to promote Turkish interests. The difficulty with the movement is that ‘‘it does not easily fit into existing categories of religious organizations in the Muslim world’’ (Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life 2010, p. 18).
The movement discussed here is according to Ebaugh (2010) a civic movement rooted in Islam that is independent from the state. Others see it simply as a faith-based movement (Esposito and Yilmaz 2010). Agai (2004) describes it as an education network and Hendrick (2009) as a global pressure group to promote Turkish interests. The difficulty with the movement is that ‘‘it does not easily fit into existing categories of religious organizations in the Muslim world’’ (Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life 2010, p. 18).
April 22, 2014
Government media runs riot in smear campaign against Hizmet
A news article in Daily Sabah, the new, English-language member of the government's media lineup, claimed on Monday that the police are ratcheting up measures to patch holes in their security network in order to prevent leaks by Gülenists, a derogatory term used to describe the Hizmet movement.
Turkish deputy PM backs rector accused of links to ‘parallel state'
Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç has expressed his support for Dicle University Rector Ayşegül Jale Saraç, who became the subject of a Higher Education Board (YÖK) administrative investigation after a ruling party deputy claimed that the rector is associated with the so-called “parallel structure” and had acted inappropriately on their behalf, stating that making such claims about a respectable woman is wrong.
Yamanlar Sweeps Gold Medals in the U.S.
Yamanlar Private School was the proud recipient of 12 gold, 10 silver, and 15 bronze medals in the 65th International Mathematical Olympiad (AMC-10), organized by the American Mathematical Society and the University of Nebraska.
April 21, 2014
Hate crimes get worse in Turkey
Abdullah Bozkurt
Despite the fact that Turkey has recently adopted legislation against hate crimes, Turkey's divisive Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has not stopped his attacks with verbal expressions of intolerance and hatred directed at the judiciary, opposition parties, the media, business groups and members of the Hizmet movement, a faith-based civic movement inspired by Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen. In fact, his hateful speech has increased in gravity, indicating that he is not interested in effective implementation of the law at all.
Despite the fact that Turkey has recently adopted legislation against hate crimes, Turkey's divisive Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has not stopped his attacks with verbal expressions of intolerance and hatred directed at the judiciary, opposition parties, the media, business groups and members of the Hizmet movement, a faith-based civic movement inspired by Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen. In fact, his hateful speech has increased in gravity, indicating that he is not interested in effective implementation of the law at all.
Mothers, fathers crying and praying due to extensive victimization
Ekrem Dumanlı
Lies and slander are not all that remain after devastating and cruel events take place. I sometimes even believe that it is better to ignore this impotent and twisted type of journalism and leave the whole settling of accounts to the Hereafter. There is no use in trying to remind people of ethics and professional standards in the face of this type of journalism, which is based on aggression and recklessness. But there is no need for pessimism; the fate of liars and the arrogant has always been the same throughout history. And it will be same now. That aggressive style of journalism will eventually collapse and disappear.
Lies and slander are not all that remain after devastating and cruel events take place. I sometimes even believe that it is better to ignore this impotent and twisted type of journalism and leave the whole settling of accounts to the Hereafter. There is no use in trying to remind people of ethics and professional standards in the face of this type of journalism, which is based on aggression and recklessness. But there is no need for pessimism; the fate of liars and the arrogant has always been the same throughout history. And it will be same now. That aggressive style of journalism will eventually collapse and disappear.
AK Party to increase social media army
Turkey's Justice and Development Party (AK Party) is planning to increase its social media army from 9,000 to 12,000 users before the presidential election, according to a Monday report in the Taraf daily.
Reactions growing to demolition of family home
People from various rights groups and foundations have leveled harsh criticism at the İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality after municipality workers demolished a prefabricated shelter in land belonging to the Hizmet-affiliated Mehtap Education Foundation, leaving a guard and his family -- including a disabled girl -- homeless.
April 20, 2014
World applauds Turkish schools abroad while gov't seeks to close them
Turkish schools that are established by educational volunteers-affiliated with the faith-based Hizmet movement, inspired by teachings of Turkish scholar Fethullah Gülen, across the world receive great appreciations in each countries they are opened while the Turkish government has recently pledged to shut down those prestigious private educational institutions.
The CHP's new era
Orhan Oğuz Gürbüz
The winner of the local polls of March 30, 2014 is clearly the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) from a quantitative perspective. How did the opposition parties perform in these elections? As we start to look for an answer, we need to focus especially on the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP).
The winner of the local polls of March 30, 2014 is clearly the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) from a quantitative perspective. How did the opposition parties perform in these elections? As we start to look for an answer, we need to focus especially on the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP).
April 19, 2014
Islamic scholar Gülen offers condolences to ferry victims
Prominent Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, who also inspired the faith-based Hizmet movement, issued a message of condolence to the families of victims who were killed when a ferry sank off in South Korea, leaving more than 300 missing or dead.
Erdoğan's game plan for Hizmet
İhsan Yılmaz
Last week, I was in Australia to participate in the launch of our recently published book “The Muslim World and Politics in Transition: Creative Contributions of the Gülen Movement,” that I edited with Greg Barton and Paul Weller. I also presented papers at a number of conferences, gave opening speeches at two meetings and gave seminars to the Australian-Turkish diaspora communities in Sydney, Australia. As far as Turkey's democracy is concerned, the picture is gloomy from the perspective of the people that I spoke to. We, who live in Turkey, because we are addicted to or accustomed to the crises, perhaps do not recognize the seriousness of the situation. People abroad are very concerned about what is going on in Turkey and they emphasize that since authoritarianism is evolving very gradually, similar to the 1930s in Italy and Germany, people in Turkey may not realize where the process is headed.
Last week, I was in Australia to participate in the launch of our recently published book “The Muslim World and Politics in Transition: Creative Contributions of the Gülen Movement,” that I edited with Greg Barton and Paul Weller. I also presented papers at a number of conferences, gave opening speeches at two meetings and gave seminars to the Australian-Turkish diaspora communities in Sydney, Australia. As far as Turkey's democracy is concerned, the picture is gloomy from the perspective of the people that I spoke to. We, who live in Turkey, because we are addicted to or accustomed to the crises, perhaps do not recognize the seriousness of the situation. People abroad are very concerned about what is going on in Turkey and they emphasize that since authoritarianism is evolving very gradually, similar to the 1930s in Italy and Germany, people in Turkey may not realize where the process is headed.
Students from West Africa gather at Turkish school in Senegal
Students from west African countries gathered in Senegal's capital city of Dakar to join Math Olympiads which were organized by Turkish "Yavuz Selim Educational Institutions".
Is the AK Party turning into the old CHP?
Abdülhamit Bilici
One of the usual tactics of old politicians is to blame external enemies for anything that goes wrong in the country. It was not really hard to convince people that this was the case given that our people were ready to buy the argument that we are surrounded by enemies and that the Turks have no friends other than the Turks.
One of the usual tactics of old politicians is to blame external enemies for anything that goes wrong in the country. It was not really hard to convince people that this was the case given that our people were ready to buy the argument that we are surrounded by enemies and that the Turks have no friends other than the Turks.
Erdoğan hampers girls' education
Abdullah Bozkurt
Adalet Binici, a 14-year-old Kurdish girl in eighth grade, became the champion in last year's Level Determination Examination (SBS), a high school placement test administered by the Turkish government to over a million students nationwide, thanks to the supplementary education and training provided by a prep school run by the Hizmet movement that is inspired by education-savvy Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen. Coming from a poor family of seven, she did not even have her own room to study in, so she spent most of her after-school time at the prep school studying and preparing for this very competitive exam.
Adalet Binici, a 14-year-old Kurdish girl in eighth grade, became the champion in last year's Level Determination Examination (SBS), a high school placement test administered by the Turkish government to over a million students nationwide, thanks to the supplementary education and training provided by a prep school run by the Hizmet movement that is inspired by education-savvy Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen. Coming from a poor family of seven, she did not even have her own room to study in, so she spent most of her after-school time at the prep school studying and preparing for this very competitive exam.
Municipality illegally demolishes building in İstanbul
Workers from the İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality have demolished a small, prefabricated shelter on land that belongs to the Hizmet-affiliated Mehtap Education Foundation, despite the lack of official permission to carry out the demolition.
April 18, 2014
Volunteer website serves as reference tool about Hizmet movement
Sevgi Akarçeşme
A website established and run by a group of Turkish volunteers based on the West Coast of the United States which aims to provide the most accurate and up-to-date source of information and news about the Hizmet movement has been attracting increasing attention globally.
A website established and run by a group of Turkish volunteers based on the West Coast of the United States which aims to provide the most accurate and up-to-date source of information and news about the Hizmet movement has been attracting increasing attention globally.
Turkey Blessed with the Prayers of Tanzanian Orphans
Fighting against poverty in 110 countries, from Africa to Asia, from the Balkans to the Middle East, the volunteers of the Kimse Yok Mu Foundation now visited orphanages in Tanzania.
Turkey parliament gives spy agency controversial new powers
Turkey’s parliament has approved legislation to bolster the powers of the country’s intelligence service, a measure government opponents say will deepen a trend towards greater authoritarianism.
April 17, 2014
Today's non-Muslims are members of the Gülen movement
Orhan Kemal Cengiz
I have just recently read in a column published in the Bugün daily by Doğu Ergil, a fellow columnist with Today's Zaman.
I have just recently read in a column published in the Bugün daily by Doğu Ergil, a fellow columnist with Today's Zaman.
Conspiracy theorists vs. columnists
Begüm Burak
The recent political turmoil that has been on the top of the agenda in the aftermath of the Dec. 17 corruption probe has been showing itself as an ontological problem for the media actors of today. In terms of conceptual conflicts, the first and foremost divide prevailing in the media scene is over the denomination of the Dec. 17 operation. The pro-government media from the very beginning labeled the operation started on Dec. 17 as a judicial coup against the Recep Tayyip Erdoğan government carried out by members of a “parallel state structure,” which mainly consists of people who government circles believe to be affiliated with the Hizmet movement.
The recent political turmoil that has been on the top of the agenda in the aftermath of the Dec. 17 corruption probe has been showing itself as an ontological problem for the media actors of today. In terms of conceptual conflicts, the first and foremost divide prevailing in the media scene is over the denomination of the Dec. 17 operation. The pro-government media from the very beginning labeled the operation started on Dec. 17 as a judicial coup against the Recep Tayyip Erdoğan government carried out by members of a “parallel state structure,” which mainly consists of people who government circles believe to be affiliated with the Hizmet movement.
Pro-gov't dailies report conflicting news on leaked audio on Syria
Pro-government newspapers have been contradicting each other about a leaked audio recording that includes an alleged conversation between some state officials about a possible incursion into Syria.
Turkey Greets Twitter Delegation With List of Demands
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey has called Twitter “the worst menace to society” and a tool of foreign conspirators. For good measure, he has also accused it of evading taxes.
Kimse Yok Mu sends aid materials with 24 trucks for Syrian refugees
International charity association collected 24 trucks of aid material for the Syrian refugees living in the eastern provinces of Turkey.
TUSKON key in trade with Turkey, top Russian group says
The Turkish Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists (TUSKON) plays a critical role in cementing investment and trade ties between Turkey and Russia and is a key partner for its Russian counterparts, the head of a top Moscow-based business group said on Wednesday.
April 16, 2014
US warns against damage to ties over recurring media claims
The US Embassy in Ankara has once again denied remarks attributed in pro-government media to US Ambassador Francis Ricciardone in the aftermath of a corruption probe investigating close allies of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, suggesting that the repetition of this claim despite numerous denials from the embassy may harm Turkish-US relations.
Commemorations for former President Özal, supporter of Turkish schools abroad
Turkey's eighth president, Turgut Özal, who left his mark on Turkish history with his exemplary personal and political character, will be commemorated with memorial services to be held in various parts of Turkey on the 21st anniversary of his death. Özal was a strong supporter of the Turkish schools abroad that the government is currently seeking to close down.
Ministerial bureaucrats purged after being profiled by MİT
The government's massive purges in the police force and judiciary after a major corruption and bribery investigation was made public in December of last year has continued to spread to the ministries, with hundreds of bureaucrats having been removed from their positions.
Legal complaint issued over Mazhar Bağlı’s hate speech
The lawyer of Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, Nurullah Albayrak, filed a legal complaint in Ankara on Wednesday against ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) politician Professor Mazhar Bağlı for his statements inciting hatred against members of the Hizmet movement in particular.
Why did France decide not to touch French religious schools abroad?
Emre Demir*
Turkey these days is debating attempts by the state to have Turkish schools that were opened as a result of civil initiatives closed down across the globe.
Turkey these days is debating attempts by the state to have Turkish schools that were opened as a result of civil initiatives closed down across the globe.
Kimse Yok Mu’s Healing Hand Extended to Two Thousand Nepalis
Kimse Yok Mu Foundation is making plans to perform cataract surgery on 2,400 Nepalis. Nepal Ministry of Health is in support of this project as well.
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