Here’s what I know.
Immediately after the failed Turkish coup, self-proclaimed protector of Turkish democracy, Fethullah Gulen, was quoted in the media as “ready and willing” to return to Turkey to face charges, proclaiming his innocence and allegiance to the Republic of Turkey, and denying that he was afraid to face trial for alleged crimes against the government of Turkey.
Now Gulen is backpedaling--- announcing in a recent New York Times guest editorial that the United States should deny the Turkish government’s request to extradite him – a request that Gulen labels as an attempt by Turkish President Erdogan to merely “blackmail” the United States.
In his editorial to the NY Times, Gulen claims that, “For more than 40 years, the participants in the movement that I am associated with — called Hizmet, the Turkish word for “service” — have advocated for, and demonstrated their commitment to, a form of government that derives its legitimacy from the will of the people and that respects the rights of all citizens regardless of their religious views, political affiliations or ethnic origins.”
That philosophy looks great in print, but the reality of Gulen and his “inspired” Hizmet organization is anything but a service-oriented group that is “respectful of the rights of citizens…”
As Gulen waxes and wanes about his 40-year “service” oriented career that has “inspired” millions of like-minded followers, touting his brand of moderate Islam as a, “a peaceful and pluralist” variety intended to evoke visions of doves and peace signs; the actuality is that Gulen and his “inspired” followers are nothing more than clever orchestrators of a ruthless worldwide criminal empire, part of which is deeply rooted in the United States.
Here’s what I know.
Contrary to Gulen’s “peaceful” philosophical claims, Gulen’s followers are trained to lie, cheat, blackmail, discredit, intimidate, and yes – discriminate against non-followers, women, and in the specific case of their United States’ “inspired” charter schools -- American educators.
For the past 16 years, the United States’ based Gulenists, and through the help of the some very highly paid and corrupt American attorneys, have filed false immigration (H1-B visa and Permanent Residency “green card”) applications, and through that practice, hijacked employment opportunities from qualified American educators and administrators in order to finance the organization’s multifaceted agenda.
Gulen’s followers have romanced United States’ politicians, handing over paid trips to Turkey, campaign contributions, and massed- produced vacuous, ego-inflating “proclamations” in order to solidify their stronghold in American politics. The continuous palm greasing activities of the Gulenists has helped procure a charter school kingdom that to date – has wantonly ravaged our tax coffers for the benefit of Gulen and his “inspired” followers.
The American taxpayers foot the bill for Gulenists' H1-B visa and permanent residency fees; and pay for Gulenist graduate degrees, privileges afforded to them because the “brothers” on their respective school boards pass resolutions that are exclusive only to them and paid for with school funding. So while United States’ citizens are struggling to find education jobs and pay student loans to obtain teaching and administrative degrees, the Gulenist employees graduate loan free -- gratis the United States’ taxpayers; sticking it to us both ways – getting a free education and using those degrees to take American educator jobs – on our dime.
Here’s what I know.
Despite Gulen’s continuous denials that the 150 United States’ “inspired” charter schools are not directly connected to Gulen, his United States’ charter school “followers” (Turkish males only), make pilgrimages up to Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania to have an audience with the Great Gulen.
Prior to arriving at Gulen’s compound, his followers are instructed to remove the batteries from their cell phones and drive rental cars. Suspicious behavior – undoubtedly.
And despite Gulen’s denials to the contrary, the followers are – as part of the organization’s “Hizmet” contract – required to pay a substantial portion of their charter school salaries back to the organization, like it or not.
Further, and in direct contrast to Gulen’s claims of interfaith tolerance and acceptance, the organization does not readily accept interfaith marriages or non-Muslims into their inner circle; and in fact disavows, attacks, and ostracizes dissident members who stray.
Here’s what I know.
Fethullah Gulen is a Turkish citizen – a guest of the United States, one holding permanent (and revocable) residency status which to date – has allowed him to live “peacefully” in a secure hideout on US soil. If President Erdogan’s assertions are true -- that Gulen is the mastermind behind the failed Turkish coup, and his organization is a terrorist group, then why is the United States tiptoeing around Turkey’s extradition request and protecting Gulen, and jeopardizing its relations with a powerful NATO ally?
Despite Gulen’s assertion that the United States “should resist” Turkey’s extradition request, the United States government needs to send Gulen back to Turkey to face criminal charges, investigate Gulen’s United States’ based charter schools, and start rounding up Gulen’s criminals – Erdogan style.
And that's what I know.
Below is the link to Gulen’s NYT guest opinion column
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/26/opinion/fethullah-gulen-i-condemn-all-threats-to-turkeys-democracy.html
Immediately after the failed Turkish coup, self-proclaimed protector of Turkish democracy, Fethullah Gulen, was quoted in the media as “ready and willing” to return to Turkey to face charges, proclaiming his innocence and allegiance to the Republic of Turkey, and denying that he was afraid to face trial for alleged crimes against the government of Turkey.
Now Gulen is backpedaling--- announcing in a recent New York Times guest editorial that the United States should deny the Turkish government’s request to extradite him – a request that Gulen labels as an attempt by Turkish President Erdogan to merely “blackmail” the United States.
In his editorial to the NY Times, Gulen claims that, “For more than 40 years, the participants in the movement that I am associated with — called Hizmet, the Turkish word for “service” — have advocated for, and demonstrated their commitment to, a form of government that derives its legitimacy from the will of the people and that respects the rights of all citizens regardless of their religious views, political affiliations or ethnic origins.”
That philosophy looks great in print, but the reality of Gulen and his “inspired” Hizmet organization is anything but a service-oriented group that is “respectful of the rights of citizens…”
As Gulen waxes and wanes about his 40-year “service” oriented career that has “inspired” millions of like-minded followers, touting his brand of moderate Islam as a, “a peaceful and pluralist” variety intended to evoke visions of doves and peace signs; the actuality is that Gulen and his “inspired” followers are nothing more than clever orchestrators of a ruthless worldwide criminal empire, part of which is deeply rooted in the United States.
Here’s what I know.
Contrary to Gulen’s “peaceful” philosophical claims, Gulen’s followers are trained to lie, cheat, blackmail, discredit, intimidate, and yes – discriminate against non-followers, women, and in the specific case of their United States’ “inspired” charter schools -- American educators.
For the past 16 years, the United States’ based Gulenists, and through the help of the some very highly paid and corrupt American attorneys, have filed false immigration (H1-B visa and Permanent Residency “green card”) applications, and through that practice, hijacked employment opportunities from qualified American educators and administrators in order to finance the organization’s multifaceted agenda.
Gulen’s followers have romanced United States’ politicians, handing over paid trips to Turkey, campaign contributions, and massed- produced vacuous, ego-inflating “proclamations” in order to solidify their stronghold in American politics. The continuous palm greasing activities of the Gulenists has helped procure a charter school kingdom that to date – has wantonly ravaged our tax coffers for the benefit of Gulen and his “inspired” followers.
The American taxpayers foot the bill for Gulenists' H1-B visa and permanent residency fees; and pay for Gulenist graduate degrees, privileges afforded to them because the “brothers” on their respective school boards pass resolutions that are exclusive only to them and paid for with school funding. So while United States’ citizens are struggling to find education jobs and pay student loans to obtain teaching and administrative degrees, the Gulenist employees graduate loan free -- gratis the United States’ taxpayers; sticking it to us both ways – getting a free education and using those degrees to take American educator jobs – on our dime.
Here’s what I know.
Despite Gulen’s continuous denials that the 150 United States’ “inspired” charter schools are not directly connected to Gulen, his United States’ charter school “followers” (Turkish males only), make pilgrimages up to Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania to have an audience with the Great Gulen.
Prior to arriving at Gulen’s compound, his followers are instructed to remove the batteries from their cell phones and drive rental cars. Suspicious behavior – undoubtedly.
And despite Gulen’s denials to the contrary, the followers are – as part of the organization’s “Hizmet” contract – required to pay a substantial portion of their charter school salaries back to the organization, like it or not.
Further, and in direct contrast to Gulen’s claims of interfaith tolerance and acceptance, the organization does not readily accept interfaith marriages or non-Muslims into their inner circle; and in fact disavows, attacks, and ostracizes dissident members who stray.
Here’s what I know.
Fethullah Gulen is a Turkish citizen – a guest of the United States, one holding permanent (and revocable) residency status which to date – has allowed him to live “peacefully” in a secure hideout on US soil. If President Erdogan’s assertions are true -- that Gulen is the mastermind behind the failed Turkish coup, and his organization is a terrorist group, then why is the United States tiptoeing around Turkey’s extradition request and protecting Gulen, and jeopardizing its relations with a powerful NATO ally?
Despite Gulen’s assertion that the United States “should resist” Turkey’s extradition request, the United States government needs to send Gulen back to Turkey to face criminal charges, investigate Gulen’s United States’ based charter schools, and start rounding up Gulen’s criminals – Erdogan style.
And that's what I know.
Below is the link to Gulen’s NYT guest opinion column
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/26/opinion/fethullah-gulen-i-condemn-all-threats-to-turkeys-democracy.html
