Nurullah Albayrak, the legal representative of Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, in a written statement on Wednesday spoke out against a front-page story in the pro-government Star daily that published the photos of 160 educators at Turkish schools overseas that are affiliated with the faith-based Gülen movement, saying the daily is breaking the law and violating those individuals' human rights by depicting innocent people as criminals.
February 12, 2015
MİLAD Co-Chairman says Oppression of Hizmet Members Akin to Genocide
Co-chairperson of the Party of Nation and Justice (MİLAD) Mehmet Bozdemir has said the government's crackdown on the followers of the Gülen movement, also known as the Hizmet movement, is tantamount to genocide.
30, including journalist, detained for protesting media crackdown
A total of 30 people, including the Cihan news agency's Şanlıurfa representative and 17 police officers, were detained in the southeastern province of Şanlıurfa on Thursday for participating in protests against the Dec. 14, 2014 İstanbul-based operation on journalists and policemen and another anti-police force operation on Jan. 5 in which dozens of policemen in the province were detained.
Special units established at TEM to monitor Hizmet members
Special bodies called “Parallel Monitoring Units” (PİB) have been established at the National Police Department counterterrorism unit (TEM) branches across 81 provinces to keep records of members of the faith-based Gülen movement, also known as Hizmet, Today's Zaman has learned.
Bank Asya raid ‘entirely political’ states Turkish Bar Associations' head
Outspoken Turkish Bar Associations’ President Prof. Dr. Feyzioğlu, states political motives behind the February 3 police raid on Bank Asya and the management overhaul “are crystal clear.”
Police raid on Bank Asya violates European Convention of Human Rights
The February 3 police raid conducted without a court order against publicly traded participation bank Bank Asya, which resulted in a management takeover by the state controlled fund, violates Article 8 of the European Convention of Human Rights, argues lawyer Süleyman Taşbaş.
The Guardian features arrested Turkish TV chief Karaca's letter
Arrested journalist Hidayet Karaca's letter detailing the threats that the media in Turkey face published by The Guardian, one of the leading British dailies.
Terrorism charges against Karaca do not make sense, CHP leader says
The leader of the main opposition party has implied that the recent arrest of Hidayet Karaca, the general manager of the Samanyolu Broadcasting Group (STV), on charges of heading a terrorist organization does not make sense as there is no solid evidence against the suspect.
Turkey’s press crackdown worsened in spite of slight climb in rank
Reporters Without Borders discloses World Press Freedom Index for 2014 placing Turkey in 149th place, a five point climb from 154th. However the organization was quick to note that this was by no means an improvement.
February 11, 2015
AfSV Statement on Chapel Hill Shootings
New York, February 11, 2015 – The Alliance for Shared Values strongly condemns the slaying of the three Muslim students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It is heartbreaking to see the loss of young, innocent lives and to see the assault on peace and tolerance we so cherish in the U.S. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the deceased.
Kimse Yok Mu’s health and education complex unveiled by Ugandan president
Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the president of Uganda, attended the opening of a health and education complex built by the Turkish charity Kimse Yok Mu (Is Anybody There) in Jinha, Uganda's second largest city.
Pro-gov’t media smears people affiliated with Gülen movement on Erdoğan’s instructions
After President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan told a group of journalists from pro-government media outlets that key names in the Gülen movement -- also known as Hizmet -- in foreign countries would be revealed on Sunday, the Star daily published a list of people affiliated globally with the faith-based movement on Wednesday.
Bank Asya investors go to Turkish court in bid to regain control
Shareholders in Turkey's Bank Asya began legal action on Wednesday in an attempt to regain control of the Islamic lender after regulators dismissed the board and took over its management.
Study finds Bank Asya the most transparent bank
Though Bank Asya was taken over by the Turkish state this week on the pretext of lack of transparency, in fact a study from Sabancı University found Bank Asya to be the most transparent Turkish bank.
Pro-gov't firms scrutinized for delaying Bank Asya docs
Some of the Turkish firms that have assets in Turkey's Bank Asya may have avoided producing some documents required by the banking watchdog on time, opening the way for last week's intervention in the bank's board, observers speculated on Wednesday.
Banking regulator’s early deadline the basis for takeover
The Chairman of Turkey’s number one publicly traded participation bank Bank Asya, Prof. Dr. Erhan Birgili, underlines numerous injustices inflicted on the banking regulator’s management takeover of Bank Asya on February 3.
February 10, 2015
Overwhelming public response in support of Bank Asya
A public outcry against the raid and temporary management takeover of Bank Asya has seen countless customers depositing their money in support.
Illegal raid against Bank Asya spells disaster for Turkey, says TUSKON head
TUSKON President Rızanur Meral expressed that the illegal state takeover of publicly traded Bank Asya’s management last week has severe implications for the rest of the banking sector, financial markets, and for the entire country and its image abroad.
CPJ calls on Turkish government to reverse anti-press measures
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), an independent, nonprofit organization that promotes press freedom worldwide, wrote a letter to Turkey's Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu on Monday to express alarm at a fresh wave of anti-press actions in Turkey and to ask Davutoğlu to use the power of his office to reverse the measures.
Lawyer: Interim board leaked Bank Asya customer info
Interim board members of Bank Asya who were appointed after the state-run Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF) took control of the lender last week have been leaking private customer information and the whole database of the bank, Bank Asya's lawyer, Süleyman Taşbaş, claimed on Monday.
Why did Turkey seize Bank Asya?
Mehmet Çetingüleç
In September 2014, in an address to the Turkish Industry and Business Association, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made the following statement: “No effort is underway to cause the bankruptcy of a bank. That bank is already bankrupt. They are carrying water by hand to keep it afloat.”
In September 2014, in an address to the Turkish Industry and Business Association, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made the following statement: “No effort is underway to cause the bankruptcy of a bank. That bank is already bankrupt. They are carrying water by hand to keep it afloat.”
February 9, 2015
One blow after another at anti-Hizmet docu’s premier
The Pennsylvania screening of the documentary “The Gulen,” targeting the Hizmet Movement and the Honorable Fethullah Gulen, was met with failure.
Three major contradictions in the Bank Asya operation
Uğur Gürses
Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BDDK) decided late Feb. 3 that 63 percent of the privileged shares that make up the executive board of Bank Asya should be controlled by the Saving Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF). This decision has been made according to Article 18 of the Banking Law. The justification for the decision was “because the institution has not presented a partnership structure that is transparent and open enough to allow for effective regulation.”
Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BDDK) decided late Feb. 3 that 63 percent of the privileged shares that make up the executive board of Bank Asya should be controlled by the Saving Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF). This decision has been made according to Article 18 of the Banking Law. The justification for the decision was “because the institution has not presented a partnership structure that is transparent and open enough to allow for effective regulation.”
Removing the barrier on the way to an autocratic state
Sami Karahan*
The whole Bank Asya operation is just the continuation of plans that started in 2006. These are plans that aim to make Justice and Development Party (AKP) rule permanent and have led to the creation of pro-government capital and big business, as well as the silencing of the opposition.
The whole Bank Asya operation is just the continuation of plans that started in 2006. These are plans that aim to make Justice and Development Party (AKP) rule permanent and have led to the creation of pro-government capital and big business, as well as the silencing of the opposition.
‘Bank Asya intervention a veiled threat to gov’t critics’
Last week's midnight police raid on Turkey's largest Islamic bank, followed by a legally flawed intervention in the bank's board, is part of a covert war that the government is waging against its political rivals and critics, observers say.
Confiscation
Ali Bulaç
Last week, the management of Bank Asya, one of the strongest financial institutions in Turkey in terms of capital sufficiency, was confiscated. Of course, the confiscation is related to current political developments, particularly the disagreement between Hizmet and the government. But there are some painful examples of confiscation in our history.
Last week, the management of Bank Asya, one of the strongest financial institutions in Turkey in terms of capital sufficiency, was confiscated. Of course, the confiscation is related to current political developments, particularly the disagreement between Hizmet and the government. But there are some painful examples of confiscation in our history.
‘Efforts to sink a bank tantamount to treason’
As reactions to last week's legally flawed intervention in Bank Asya continue to pour in, outspoken critics of the intervention leveled harsh criticisms against the government on Monday.
Arrested journalist Hidayet Karaca’s letter published in Le Monde
Arrested journalist Hidayet Karaca's letter detailing the threats that the media in Turkey face was published by Le Monde, one of the leading newspapers in France, on Monday.
CHP visits journalist under arrest since Dec. 14 media crackdown
A delegation from the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) has visited Samanyolu TV Group General Manager Hidayet Karaca, who has been under arrest since a government-backed police operation took place against independent media outlets on Dec. 14, 2014.
Is Erdoğan’s ‘taka’ headed for the cliffs?
Emre Deliveli
Not according to credit ratings agency Standard and Poor’s. In a note released on Feb. 6, S and P said the “banking regulator’s (BDDK) decision to transfer the management of Bank Asya to the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF) does not affect the unsolicited credit ratings on Turkey.”
Not according to credit ratings agency Standard and Poor’s. In a note released on Feb. 6, S and P said the “banking regulator’s (BDDK) decision to transfer the management of Bank Asya to the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF) does not affect the unsolicited credit ratings on Turkey.”
February 8, 2015
Gov’t’s pressure for closure of Turkish schools abroad yields no result
The movement that started out a quarter-century ago to support education for children abroad starting with the autonomous Azerbaijani republic of Nakhchivan has now reached 160 foreign countries, with the founders of the movement and its volunteers welcomed with open arms around the world.
'Erdoğan's Stance Against Africa Similar To Colonial States'
Jean Paul Kouo, the deputy education minister of the Republic of Cote d'Ivoire, has responded to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Turkish authorities, saying their stance against African countries is similar to colonial countries that wanted an educationally backward Africa they could exploit easily.
Gülen, followers targeted after scholar’s New York Times article
The pro-government media, the government and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan continue to perpetuate an ongoing defamation and smear campaign against Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen and the movement he inspired as well as figures they believe are affiliated with the movement. Gülen and the Gülen movement, also known as the Hizmet movement, were targeted due to an op-ed the scholar had written for The New York Times last week.
Award-winning US screenwriter: Without freedom of speech and media, we’re all slaves
Terry Spencer Hesser, director of the first feature-length movie about Fethullah Gülen and the Hizmet movement, a grassroots initiative inspired by the Islamic scholar, spoke to Sunday's Zaman at the Strasbourg screening of the biopic titled "Love Is a Verb," on everything, from the Dec. 14, 2014 police raids on news outlets to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's defamation campaign against Hizmet-affiliated schools, saying, “If we don't have freedom of speech and media freedoms, we're all slaves.”
President’s suggestion that Bank Asya bankrupt denied by BDDK
Ali Aslan Kılıç
An important reservation is being made to a strong statement on the history of banking that is in economy textbooks used in colleges. Anywhere in the world, speculation about banks causes enormous panic that depositors will try to withdraw their money, pushing a bank to the brink of collapse. Maybe the only exception to this general rule is Bank Asya. A smear campaign has been carried out against Bank Asya for months, a target of revenge for what the government says was a role in the Dec. 17 and 25, 2013 corruption and bribery investigations. Public institutions were told to withdraw their deposits and businessmen were also warned to do the same. The withdrawal of money was also reported in the media to cause general panic.
An important reservation is being made to a strong statement on the history of banking that is in economy textbooks used in colleges. Anywhere in the world, speculation about banks causes enormous panic that depositors will try to withdraw their money, pushing a bank to the brink of collapse. Maybe the only exception to this general rule is Bank Asya. A smear campaign has been carried out against Bank Asya for months, a target of revenge for what the government says was a role in the Dec. 17 and 25, 2013 corruption and bribery investigations. Public institutions were told to withdraw their deposits and businessmen were also warned to do the same. The withdrawal of money was also reported in the media to cause general panic.
Clear intervention in judiciary
Günal Kurşun
The arbitrary actions and operations of the administration have been systematic and widespread over the last two years in Turkey. Though we saw and criticized this arbitrariness in the past, it became truly systematic and widespread after Dec. 17 and 25 because of the atmosphere of panic among the Justice and Development Party (AKP). They believe that if they somehow lose their positions of power in the government, all of their corrupt practices will be seen by the public. They have instead blamed the Gülen movement, also known as the Hizmet movement, rather than confront their own actions and operations, which created the filth.
The arbitrary actions and operations of the administration have been systematic and widespread over the last two years in Turkey. Though we saw and criticized this arbitrariness in the past, it became truly systematic and widespread after Dec. 17 and 25 because of the atmosphere of panic among the Justice and Development Party (AKP). They believe that if they somehow lose their positions of power in the government, all of their corrupt practices will be seen by the public. They have instead blamed the Gülen movement, also known as the Hizmet movement, rather than confront their own actions and operations, which created the filth.
Security of life and property in the ‘New Turkey’
Bülent Keneş
The final situation of Turkey under the government mafia of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government, which are knee-deep in crimes and sins, is very tragic, no matter from which angle you look. It is very obvious that Erdoğan and the crime mafia he meticulously created in order to cover up corruption, bribery and irregularities -- the total extent of which is not known but some, maybe the tip of the iceberg, was revealed in the Dec. 17 and Dec. 25, 2013 probes -- have left nothing in the country regarding rights, the law, freedoms, public order and the separation of powers.
The final situation of Turkey under the government mafia of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government, which are knee-deep in crimes and sins, is very tragic, no matter from which angle you look. It is very obvious that Erdoğan and the crime mafia he meticulously created in order to cover up corruption, bribery and irregularities -- the total extent of which is not known but some, maybe the tip of the iceberg, was revealed in the Dec. 17 and Dec. 25, 2013 probes -- have left nothing in the country regarding rights, the law, freedoms, public order and the separation of powers.
Bank Asya: The tyranny of arbitrariness or confiscation from Ottomans to Turkey
Murat Aksoy*
Bank Asya -- which has never experienced a significant problem since it was founded 20 years ago, despite serious problems in the banking sector -- is now in the spotlight and being targeted by the state. We have heard a lot of allegations, including the claim that its economic outlook is deteriorating. However, we have also realized that none of these allegations is true.
Bank Asya -- which has never experienced a significant problem since it was founded 20 years ago, despite serious problems in the banking sector -- is now in the spotlight and being targeted by the state. We have heard a lot of allegations, including the claim that its economic outlook is deteriorating. However, we have also realized that none of these allegations is true.
‘New Turkey’ placing free market and property rights under threat
Tuesday's raid on the headquarters of a publicly traded lender has sparked widespread reactions from a number of prominent experts, who have all voiced their concerns over the free market economy and property rights in the country -- dubbed the “New Turkey” -- since the authorities neither show respect for the interests of shareholders at home nor are they worried about the growing anxiety of foreign investors.
Turkish Bar Association President the latest to slam Bank Asya overhaul
Turkish Bar Association (TBB) President Metin Feyzioğlu outlines the illegality of the management overhaul of Bank Asya, renewing his criticism of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Who will put an end to Erdoğan’s power?
Mümtazer Türköne
The only realistic and plausible answer to this question is: It is President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan who will put an end to his own power.
The only realistic and plausible answer to this question is: It is President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan who will put an end to his own power.
February 7, 2015
Details of the witch hunt
Ali Yurttagül
The Justice and Development Party (AKP) has now lost control of everything.
The Justice and Development Party (AKP) has now lost control of everything.
Kimse Yok Mu one of world’s best 100 NGOs
Turkish charity organization Kimse Yok Mu (Is Anybody There) has been named by Swiss non-profit group Global_Geneva as one of the world's best NGOs, the charity has announced.
Bank Asya operation and violation of property rights
Erhan Başyurt
It became clear that temporarily taking over the management of Bank Asya is a politically motivated action lacking legal grounds.
It became clear that temporarily taking over the management of Bank Asya is a politically motivated action lacking legal grounds.
February 6, 2015
Change of attitude from democratization to authoritarianism
Abdülhamit Bilici
Everybody gets upset by the anti-democratic acts, the shelving of the Constitution, the non-compliance with judicial decisions and the pressure on the business world, civil society and opposition parties.
Everybody gets upset by the anti-democratic acts, the shelving of the Constitution, the non-compliance with judicial decisions and the pressure on the business world, civil society and opposition parties.
We are beyond the limit
Gökhan Bacık
It is nonsense to discuss whether the "Hizmet movement" is good or bad or is mistaken. The political approach "We are correcting lawlessness" has been transformed into an annihilation campaign.
It is nonsense to discuss whether the "Hizmet movement" is good or bad or is mistaken. The political approach "We are correcting lawlessness" has been transformed into an annihilation campaign.
Erdoğan distorts Gülen’s NYT op-ed, says it is about Bank Asya operation
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has presented a distorted interpretation of an op-ed written by Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen that was published in The New York Times, claiming the op-ed is about the takeover of the board of Islamic lender Bank Asya by Turkey's banking watchdog.
US urges Turkey to follow international legal standards in Bank Asya case
The US Department of State deputy spokesperson, Marie Harf, said that the US expects the Turkish government to follow international legal standards in Bank Asya case.
In Washington, Turkish minister highlights press freedom, bans critical journalists
Turkey's infamous press ban has been extended to Washington this week, as a Turkish minister imposed a press ban on critical journalists while stressing the press freedoms that Turks enjoy back at home.
Bank Asya incident: systemic risk and rule of law
Taptuk Emre Erkoç*
Turkey's Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BDDK) announced on Feb. 3 that it is transferring 63 percent of Bank Asya's preferential shares to the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF) due to the lender's breach of the provision requiring “transparent and clear partnership structures and organization schemes that will not prevent active audit of the institution," although the Banking Regulatory Act does not allow it to do so. Furthermore, independent auditing firm Ernst and Young did not point out any sign of structural irregularities in its recent report on Bank Asya.
Turkey's Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BDDK) announced on Feb. 3 that it is transferring 63 percent of Bank Asya's preferential shares to the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF) due to the lender's breach of the provision requiring “transparent and clear partnership structures and organization schemes that will not prevent active audit of the institution," although the Banking Regulatory Act does not allow it to do so. Furthermore, independent auditing firm Ernst and Young did not point out any sign of structural irregularities in its recent report on Bank Asya.
Bank Asya raid can be subjected to international rights courts
Legal expert Dr. Sami Karahan warned that the illegal and unjustifiable management overhaul of publicly traded participation bank Bank Asya may make the state liable in international courts.
Law experts urge Turkish gov’t to stop ‘playing with fire’ by sinking bank
Law experts agree that the Turkish government was “playing with fire” by illegally overhauling the management on Bank Asya, and many said that the measures would put the country’s economy at risk.
Turks living abroad return to support Bank Asya
Following Tuesday's government-orchestrated decision to take over 63 percent of Bank Asya's management, tens of thousands of citizens have flooded the bank's branches across Turkey with money, defying the political pressure.
Bank Asya CEO confident of regaining control of management
The executive chairman of Turkey's largest Islamic lender, Ahmet Beyaz -- who has been removed from his position after a banking watchdog decided to take over the management of the bank -- said on Friday that the current position of Bank Asya's board is temporary and that shareholders would take legal action against the decision since it has no legal ground according to the relevant article of the banking law.
Bank Asya partners issue written warning after overhaul
Publicly-traded Bank Asya’s founding partners issued a warning against the management overhaul, calling for the return of the board, or else they would file suit.
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