A
recent news article written by Ngilizce Haberler, of the Turkish New York website, details concerns over defamatory acts
being flailed against Turkish-Americans, and as attributed to the increasing animosity and distrust lobbied against the
Gulenists living both here and abroad. More specifically, Haberler notes that
the Gulen movement and its association with Gulenist-run American charter
schools, has created a hostile environment against Turkish-Americans who despite
not having any association with the Gulen movement, are cast in the same pot –
so to speak.
As a result of the ongoing “he said – he said” attacks between Turkey’s President Erdogan (and his government) and Fethullah Gulen (a Turkish citizen living in the United States as a permanent resident), and the United States' ongoing FBI investigations into the US Gulenist charter schools, Haberler claims that the resulting aftermath is directly and negatively impacting law-abiding and non-Gulenist Turkish Americans.
Further, “Adil Baguirov, an elected member of the Dayton Board of Education claims that the Gülenist schools not only damage the reputation of Turkish people, but also portray a negative image of Muslims living in the state. It is unfortunate that these schools result in such problems" said Baguirov, warning that it is necessary to put a stop to such activities” (Turkishny.com).
Sorry, to hear that there is residual fallout from the FBI investigations into the Gulenists and their “United States- funded” schools, but that’s to be expected. However, in no way do I advocate any form of discrimination against any nationality or religious preference (that’s the Gulenists’ modus operandi). But until the United States government starts arresting the Gulenist criminals and extradites Gulen back to Turkey, people in the United States are by nature – going to continue to be suspicious.
There are many law-abiding and honorable Turkish-Americans living in the United States who deserve to be treated with respect and authority. And likewise – it’s unfair to label all Turkish-Americans as Gulenists – because it’s simply not true.
Below is Haberler’s article:
http://www.turkishny.com/english-news/5-english-news/171244-gulenist-schools-damage-turkeys-reputation-in-the-us#.VL_A3C6ulXm
Gülenist Schools Damage Turkey’s Reputation in the US
By: NGİLİZCE HABERLER and Published on January 20, 2015
Communities of Turkish people living in Ohio in the United States have stated that they are disturbed by the activities of charter schools affiliated with the Gülen Movement, which they claim try to damage Turkey's reputation in the U.S. through a series of defamation campaigns.
Their concerns are also shared by numerous American officials, and community leaders who claim schools affiliated with the Gülen Movement not only damage the reputation of Turkish people living in the U.S., but also create a negative image of Muslims.
According to the Anadolu Agency, charter schools operated by the Gülen Movement do not only carry out a defamation campaign about Turkey but also create a negative portrayal of all Turkish people living in the U.S. as a result of a series of irregularities, which in some cases have prompted investigations carried out by the FBI.
Jeffrey J. Mims, who formerly served as the President of the Dayton Board of Education and is an active advocate of education in Ohio by providing leadership and support for the Superintendent of the State of Ohio and members of the Ohio Department of Education, has stated that they are concerned about the charter schools operated by the Gülen Movement and claimed they damage the reputation of the Turkish society living in Ohio.
Adil Baguirov, an elected member of the Dayton Board of Education has stated that Gülenist schools not only damage the reputation of Turkish people, but also portray a negative image of Muslims living in the state. "It is unfortunate that these schools result in such problems" said Baguirov, warning that it is necessary to put a stop to such activities.
The President of Ahıska Turkish-American Community Centre, Islam Shahbenderov, has also expressed concern about Gülenist schools operating in various regions throughout the U.S. and stated that there were racist attacks against an Ahıska-Turkish family shortly after the news about raiding Gülenist schools.
"Our community is also paying the price for Gülen Movement's actions and they are seriously harming the image of Turkey and Turkish people" said Shahbenderov, adding that Gülenists carry their defamation campaign to the Congress and try to portray a pessimistic and negative view about the Turkish state and the government.
Other community leaders have noted that the propaganda spread by the Gülen Movement and controversies surrounding their charter schools in the U.S. have resulted in many Americans blaming all Turkish people living there, while they underline the need to make charter schools more transparent and accountable.
In June 2014, the Federal Bureau of Investigation raided 19 charter schools affiliated with the Gülen Movement in Ohio, Indiana and Illinois for reasons allegedly related to crimes linked to education tenders.
Schools operated by the Gülen Movement in the U.S. have faced investigations under the scope of unfair hiring practices and bribery charges, which have led them to face closure. It was reported that Gülenist schools allegedly hire a disproportionately high amount of Turkish teachers, pay them more than their American counterparts and have serious gender inequality issues.
The Gülen Movement is led by Fethullah Gülen, who currently lives in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania. He is accused of orchestrating the December 17 coup attempt and infiltrating Turkish state institutions through Gülenist agents. It is claimed that he may be facing extradition charges for conspiring against the state as Turkey is preparing to issue a Red Notice for his arrest.
As a result of the ongoing “he said – he said” attacks between Turkey’s President Erdogan (and his government) and Fethullah Gulen (a Turkish citizen living in the United States as a permanent resident), and the United States' ongoing FBI investigations into the US Gulenist charter schools, Haberler claims that the resulting aftermath is directly and negatively impacting law-abiding and non-Gulenist Turkish Americans.
Further, “Adil Baguirov, an elected member of the Dayton Board of Education claims that the Gülenist schools not only damage the reputation of Turkish people, but also portray a negative image of Muslims living in the state. It is unfortunate that these schools result in such problems" said Baguirov, warning that it is necessary to put a stop to such activities” (Turkishny.com).
Sorry, to hear that there is residual fallout from the FBI investigations into the Gulenists and their “United States- funded” schools, but that’s to be expected. However, in no way do I advocate any form of discrimination against any nationality or religious preference (that’s the Gulenists’ modus operandi). But until the United States government starts arresting the Gulenist criminals and extradites Gulen back to Turkey, people in the United States are by nature – going to continue to be suspicious.
There are many law-abiding and honorable Turkish-Americans living in the United States who deserve to be treated with respect and authority. And likewise – it’s unfair to label all Turkish-Americans as Gulenists – because it’s simply not true.
Below is Haberler’s article:
http://www.turkishny.com/english-news/5-english-news/171244-gulenist-schools-damage-turkeys-reputation-in-the-us#.VL_A3C6ulXm
Gülenist Schools Damage Turkey’s Reputation in the US
By: NGİLİZCE HABERLER and Published on January 20, 2015
Communities of Turkish people living in Ohio in the United States have stated that they are disturbed by the activities of charter schools affiliated with the Gülen Movement, which they claim try to damage Turkey's reputation in the U.S. through a series of defamation campaigns.
Their concerns are also shared by numerous American officials, and community leaders who claim schools affiliated with the Gülen Movement not only damage the reputation of Turkish people living in the U.S., but also create a negative image of Muslims.
According to the Anadolu Agency, charter schools operated by the Gülen Movement do not only carry out a defamation campaign about Turkey but also create a negative portrayal of all Turkish people living in the U.S. as a result of a series of irregularities, which in some cases have prompted investigations carried out by the FBI.
Jeffrey J. Mims, who formerly served as the President of the Dayton Board of Education and is an active advocate of education in Ohio by providing leadership and support for the Superintendent of the State of Ohio and members of the Ohio Department of Education, has stated that they are concerned about the charter schools operated by the Gülen Movement and claimed they damage the reputation of the Turkish society living in Ohio.
Adil Baguirov, an elected member of the Dayton Board of Education has stated that Gülenist schools not only damage the reputation of Turkish people, but also portray a negative image of Muslims living in the state. "It is unfortunate that these schools result in such problems" said Baguirov, warning that it is necessary to put a stop to such activities.
The President of Ahıska Turkish-American Community Centre, Islam Shahbenderov, has also expressed concern about Gülenist schools operating in various regions throughout the U.S. and stated that there were racist attacks against an Ahıska-Turkish family shortly after the news about raiding Gülenist schools.
"Our community is also paying the price for Gülen Movement's actions and they are seriously harming the image of Turkey and Turkish people" said Shahbenderov, adding that Gülenists carry their defamation campaign to the Congress and try to portray a pessimistic and negative view about the Turkish state and the government.
Other community leaders have noted that the propaganda spread by the Gülen Movement and controversies surrounding their charter schools in the U.S. have resulted in many Americans blaming all Turkish people living there, while they underline the need to make charter schools more transparent and accountable.
In June 2014, the Federal Bureau of Investigation raided 19 charter schools affiliated with the Gülen Movement in Ohio, Indiana and Illinois for reasons allegedly related to crimes linked to education tenders.
Schools operated by the Gülen Movement in the U.S. have faced investigations under the scope of unfair hiring practices and bribery charges, which have led them to face closure. It was reported that Gülenist schools allegedly hire a disproportionately high amount of Turkish teachers, pay them more than their American counterparts and have serious gender inequality issues.
The Gülen Movement is led by Fethullah Gülen, who currently lives in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania. He is accused of orchestrating the December 17 coup attempt and infiltrating Turkish state institutions through Gülenist agents. It is claimed that he may be facing extradition charges for conspiring against the state as Turkey is preparing to issue a Red Notice for his arrest.
