In a major coup for Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayipp Erdogan, Turkey’s parliament passed a bill that will close down thousands of private schools in Turkey, the majority of them run by the Gulenists. This is huge for Erdogan and a disaster for Fethullah Gulen and his cult because these schools are essentially recruiting and training grounds for future Gulenists who willingly commit themselves to serving Gulen and his growing political and financial empire. By shutting down their recruiting posts (disguised as private schools), Erdogan’s team is cutting off one of Gulen’s most critical revenue streams.
But putting aside the financial aspect of these schools – as equally as important is the loss of Gulen’s “grooming” salon. The Gulenists recruit students with the promise of intensive tutoring in preparation of passing the requisite and highly competitive Turkish high school entrance exams. However, that’s not the only curriculum being taught in the Gulenist run schools, it’s just a sideline activity used to conceal the true sinister schema – which is to recruit and brainwash vulnerable young people who will ultimately pledge their allegiance and money to Gulen’s movement.
So the loss of his Turkish schools could be problematic – it’s a double whammy with a hit in Gulen’s wallet and cult membership. Losing potential recruits could be catastrophic to Gulen’s agenda because without fresh, vulnerable, and “brainwashable” youth being easily picked off like ripe cherries to be squeezed dry, Gulen’s powerful empire will quickly erode.
It’s clear that at one time Erdogan and Gulen had some sort of symbiotic relationship; otherwise the development and continuation of Gulen’s “training schools” would have stopped a long time ago. But now that the “best friends forever,” are battling for control of Turkey, Erdogan’s move to shut down Gulen’s schools is a well placed strategic move by Erdogan. (As a side note to Gulen, that’s what happens when you take up residence in the United States and leave your minions at home in Turkey to take care of business).
Erdogan is certainly not without his critics, Turks are wary of what they perceive the encroachment on their civil rights, like freedom of speech – and the tightening of controls on Internet sites. But I am going to go out on a limb here and play the devil’s advocate. Considering Gulen’s bunch of bullies have systematically controlled the majority of the Turkish media for years, spinning the “truth” to benefit their power network, conceivably this is a calculated move on Erdogan’s part to block the escalating government criticism volleyed by Gulen’s camp and meted out by his mass media empire.
Say what you want about Erdogan, but if this guy has the influence and gumption to close down Gulen’s schools in Turkey, then I say bring him to the United States and let him instruct our legislators on how to shut down the 140 Gulen publicly funded charter schools that continue to flourish here under the sanction of the United States government. Obviously, Erdogan has bigger “tasaklar" than our legislators who prefer to fill their pockets with Gulenist political campaign contributions and free trips to Turkey, rather than investigate this massive abuse of tax payer funding.
Below is the story on the Parliament’s action and as posted on Yahoo:
http://news.yahoo.com/turkey-passes-law-shut-schools-run-erdogan-arch-132232189.html
By Fulya Ozerkan and published on March 1, 2014
Turkey passes law to shut schools run by Erdogan arch-rival
Ankara (AFP) - Turkey's parliament has passed a bill to close down thousands of private schools, many of which are run by an influential Muslim cleric locked in a bitter feud with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The move will strike a blow to Erdogan's ally-turned-rival Fethullah Gulen, for whom the schools are a major source of income, as he stands accused of seeking to topple the government with a damaging corruption scandal.
The bill, which was approved late on Friday, sets September 1, 2015 as the deadline to close down the network of schools.
There are around 4,000 private schools in Turkey, including an unknown number of preparatory schools run by Gulen's movement.
Tensions have long simmered between Erdogan and Gulen, who once worked hand-in-hand as the conservative pro-business middle class rose at the expense of the military and former secular elite.
But they reached breaking point in November when Erdogan's Islamic-rooted government first floated the idea of shutting down the schools, which aim to help students prepare for high school and university.
Erdogan said at the time he wanted to abolish an unfair education system.
"Those who benefit from these courses are the kids of rich families in big cities," said the premier, who himself hails from humble roots and has tried to cultivate an image as a man of the people during his time in office.
Eyup Kilci, deputy principal of the Gulen-affiliated Guvender school network in Ankara, condemned the new legislation, telling AFP it gives Turkey the unenviable distinction of being "the only country which bans education activities".
- Protests against corruption -
Erdogan's feud with Gulen escalated in mid-December, when dozens of the premier's political and business allies were detained in police raids on allegations of bribery in construction projects, gold smuggling and illicit dealings with Iran.
Erdogan accused so-called Gulenists implanted in Turkey's police and judiciary of instigating the corruption probe in a bid to undermine his government ahead of local elections on March 30 and presidential elections in August.
He retaliated by sacking hundreds of police and prosecutors believed to be linked to Gulen.
The scandal, which brought down four ministers and prompted a cabinet reshuffle, has evolved into the most serious challenge yet to Erdogan since his Justice and Development Party (AKP) came to power in 2002.
This week, the graft controversy widened to directly implicate Erdogan himself, after recordings were leaked online in which the premier can allegedly be heard discussing hiding large sums of cash and conspiring to extort a bribe from a business associate.
The incriminating tapes have prompted the opposition to call for Erdogan's resignation, while angry residents have staged protests against government corruption.
Some demonstrators were seen handing out fake euros in a mocking reference to the leaked audio tapes, which the government insists were fabricated.
At an election rally in the northwestern city of Kirklareli, Erdogan accused Gulen loyalists of "espionage" that threatened national security and warned that they would pay a "heavy price".
"They wiretapped Turkey's very confidential and very strategic conversations, and disclosed them to other (enemies)," he said. "Can there be such treachery and lowness?"
Observers say Gulen's Hizmet (Service) movement risks losing millions of dollars in revenue once its Turkish educational institutions are closed down under the new legislation.
In other attempts to contain the political crisis, Erdogan's government has recently also pushed through legislation tightening state control over the Internet and the judiciary, raising questions at home and abroad about the state of democracy in Turkey.
Gulen, who has been living in the United States since 1999 to escape charges of plotting against the secular state by the then-government, has denied any involvement in the corruption probe.
The Hizmet movement also runs an estimated number of 500 private schools around the world.
But putting aside the financial aspect of these schools – as equally as important is the loss of Gulen’s “grooming” salon. The Gulenists recruit students with the promise of intensive tutoring in preparation of passing the requisite and highly competitive Turkish high school entrance exams. However, that’s not the only curriculum being taught in the Gulenist run schools, it’s just a sideline activity used to conceal the true sinister schema – which is to recruit and brainwash vulnerable young people who will ultimately pledge their allegiance and money to Gulen’s movement.
So the loss of his Turkish schools could be problematic – it’s a double whammy with a hit in Gulen’s wallet and cult membership. Losing potential recruits could be catastrophic to Gulen’s agenda because without fresh, vulnerable, and “brainwashable” youth being easily picked off like ripe cherries to be squeezed dry, Gulen’s powerful empire will quickly erode.
It’s clear that at one time Erdogan and Gulen had some sort of symbiotic relationship; otherwise the development and continuation of Gulen’s “training schools” would have stopped a long time ago. But now that the “best friends forever,” are battling for control of Turkey, Erdogan’s move to shut down Gulen’s schools is a well placed strategic move by Erdogan. (As a side note to Gulen, that’s what happens when you take up residence in the United States and leave your minions at home in Turkey to take care of business).
Erdogan is certainly not without his critics, Turks are wary of what they perceive the encroachment on their civil rights, like freedom of speech – and the tightening of controls on Internet sites. But I am going to go out on a limb here and play the devil’s advocate. Considering Gulen’s bunch of bullies have systematically controlled the majority of the Turkish media for years, spinning the “truth” to benefit their power network, conceivably this is a calculated move on Erdogan’s part to block the escalating government criticism volleyed by Gulen’s camp and meted out by his mass media empire.
Say what you want about Erdogan, but if this guy has the influence and gumption to close down Gulen’s schools in Turkey, then I say bring him to the United States and let him instruct our legislators on how to shut down the 140 Gulen publicly funded charter schools that continue to flourish here under the sanction of the United States government. Obviously, Erdogan has bigger “tasaklar" than our legislators who prefer to fill their pockets with Gulenist political campaign contributions and free trips to Turkey, rather than investigate this massive abuse of tax payer funding.
Below is the story on the Parliament’s action and as posted on Yahoo:
http://news.yahoo.com/turkey-passes-law-shut-schools-run-erdogan-arch-132232189.html
By Fulya Ozerkan and published on March 1, 2014
Turkey passes law to shut schools run by Erdogan arch-rival
Ankara (AFP) - Turkey's parliament has passed a bill to close down thousands of private schools, many of which are run by an influential Muslim cleric locked in a bitter feud with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The move will strike a blow to Erdogan's ally-turned-rival Fethullah Gulen, for whom the schools are a major source of income, as he stands accused of seeking to topple the government with a damaging corruption scandal.
The bill, which was approved late on Friday, sets September 1, 2015 as the deadline to close down the network of schools.
There are around 4,000 private schools in Turkey, including an unknown number of preparatory schools run by Gulen's movement.
Tensions have long simmered between Erdogan and Gulen, who once worked hand-in-hand as the conservative pro-business middle class rose at the expense of the military and former secular elite.
But they reached breaking point in November when Erdogan's Islamic-rooted government first floated the idea of shutting down the schools, which aim to help students prepare for high school and university.
Erdogan said at the time he wanted to abolish an unfair education system.
"Those who benefit from these courses are the kids of rich families in big cities," said the premier, who himself hails from humble roots and has tried to cultivate an image as a man of the people during his time in office.
Eyup Kilci, deputy principal of the Gulen-affiliated Guvender school network in Ankara, condemned the new legislation, telling AFP it gives Turkey the unenviable distinction of being "the only country which bans education activities".
- Protests against corruption -
Erdogan's feud with Gulen escalated in mid-December, when dozens of the premier's political and business allies were detained in police raids on allegations of bribery in construction projects, gold smuggling and illicit dealings with Iran.
Erdogan accused so-called Gulenists implanted in Turkey's police and judiciary of instigating the corruption probe in a bid to undermine his government ahead of local elections on March 30 and presidential elections in August.
He retaliated by sacking hundreds of police and prosecutors believed to be linked to Gulen.
The scandal, which brought down four ministers and prompted a cabinet reshuffle, has evolved into the most serious challenge yet to Erdogan since his Justice and Development Party (AKP) came to power in 2002.
This week, the graft controversy widened to directly implicate Erdogan himself, after recordings were leaked online in which the premier can allegedly be heard discussing hiding large sums of cash and conspiring to extort a bribe from a business associate.
The incriminating tapes have prompted the opposition to call for Erdogan's resignation, while angry residents have staged protests against government corruption.
Some demonstrators were seen handing out fake euros in a mocking reference to the leaked audio tapes, which the government insists were fabricated.
At an election rally in the northwestern city of Kirklareli, Erdogan accused Gulen loyalists of "espionage" that threatened national security and warned that they would pay a "heavy price".
"They wiretapped Turkey's very confidential and very strategic conversations, and disclosed them to other (enemies)," he said. "Can there be such treachery and lowness?"
Observers say Gulen's Hizmet (Service) movement risks losing millions of dollars in revenue once its Turkish educational institutions are closed down under the new legislation.
In other attempts to contain the political crisis, Erdogan's government has recently also pushed through legislation tightening state control over the Internet and the judiciary, raising questions at home and abroad about the state of democracy in Turkey.
Gulen, who has been living in the United States since 1999 to escape charges of plotting against the secular state by the then-government, has denied any involvement in the corruption probe.
The Hizmet movement also runs an estimated number of 500 private schools around the world.
