In an interesting turn of events – and pretty much in tandem, Istanbul, Turkey’s 14th High Penal Court issued an arrest warrant for Pennsylvania self-exiled Turkish citizen Fetullah Gulen. Gulen faces a possible jail sentence of 34 years and has been accused of “conspiracy, forgery of official documents, and slander.” Coincidentally – last week, United States’ Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan resigned his cabinet post.
Coincidence – or not?
Under Duncan’s tenure, and based on his department’s “Race to the Top,” contest, in 2013, Texas based Gulen-affiliated charter schools were awarded $30 million in grant funding by the Department of Education.
So why did Duncan suddenly resign his post with less than a year left with the Obama administration?
Perhaps it’s a just a fluke that Gulen’s arrest warrant and Duncan’s resignation were so closely timed – but maybe not. It might be slightly embarrassing for the Obama administration to explain how one of its own – Duncan – awarded a huge chunk of US taxpayer funds over to a group affiliated with Gulen, a person whom the Turkish government has accused of running a “parallel state.”
It’s certainly an interesting turn of events ….
Below is an article on Gulen’s arrest warrant and published on October 3, 2105 by Trend News Agency:
October 3, 2014
http://en.trend.az/world/turkey/2439710.html
An arrest warrant has been issued for U.S.-based preacher Fetullah Gulen in absentia for alleged "conspiracy, forgery of official documents and slander" as part of an ongoing "parallel state" probe in Turkey.
Istanbul's 14th High Penal Court issued the warrant late Friday after the court approved the indictment submitted by the Anti-Terror and Organized Crimes Bureau of Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.
The indictment demanded a jail term of up to 34 years for Gulen on charges of "conspiracy, forgery of official documents and slander" as part of a probe over a 2011 complaint filed by Mehmet Nuri Turan, the founder of the Istanbul-based publishing house "Tahsiye", who had claimed that he was targeted by Gulen.
The prosecutor also sought prison sentences of up to 26 years for 32 other suspects each, including Samanyolu Media Group Chairman Hidayet Karaca and several police chiefs on charges of "membership to an armed organization, forgery of official documents and slander".
The court ruled for the arrest of prime suspect Gulen in absentia, on the grounds that he was a "fugitive" and "there are phenomena of virtual criminal suspicion, concrete phenomena suggesting that he might hide" and the "measure of judicial control would be insufficient in face of the classification and nature of the crime".
Judges also wanted a letter to be sent to the Ministry of Justice so that a red notice could be issued by Interpol that could lead to the extradition of the suspect by U.S. judicial authorities.
The case will be tried at Istanbul's Silivri Prison and Correctional Facility, with the first hearings to be held on December 22, 23 and 24.
Coincidence – or not?
Under Duncan’s tenure, and based on his department’s “Race to the Top,” contest, in 2013, Texas based Gulen-affiliated charter schools were awarded $30 million in grant funding by the Department of Education.
So why did Duncan suddenly resign his post with less than a year left with the Obama administration?
Perhaps it’s a just a fluke that Gulen’s arrest warrant and Duncan’s resignation were so closely timed – but maybe not. It might be slightly embarrassing for the Obama administration to explain how one of its own – Duncan – awarded a huge chunk of US taxpayer funds over to a group affiliated with Gulen, a person whom the Turkish government has accused of running a “parallel state.”
It’s certainly an interesting turn of events ….
Below is an article on Gulen’s arrest warrant and published on October 3, 2105 by Trend News Agency:
October 3, 2014
http://en.trend.az/world/turkey/2439710.html
An arrest warrant has been issued for U.S.-based preacher Fetullah Gulen in absentia for alleged "conspiracy, forgery of official documents and slander" as part of an ongoing "parallel state" probe in Turkey.
Istanbul's 14th High Penal Court issued the warrant late Friday after the court approved the indictment submitted by the Anti-Terror and Organized Crimes Bureau of Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.
The indictment demanded a jail term of up to 34 years for Gulen on charges of "conspiracy, forgery of official documents and slander" as part of a probe over a 2011 complaint filed by Mehmet Nuri Turan, the founder of the Istanbul-based publishing house "Tahsiye", who had claimed that he was targeted by Gulen.
The prosecutor also sought prison sentences of up to 26 years for 32 other suspects each, including Samanyolu Media Group Chairman Hidayet Karaca and several police chiefs on charges of "membership to an armed organization, forgery of official documents and slander".
The court ruled for the arrest of prime suspect Gulen in absentia, on the grounds that he was a "fugitive" and "there are phenomena of virtual criminal suspicion, concrete phenomena suggesting that he might hide" and the "measure of judicial control would be insufficient in face of the classification and nature of the crime".
Judges also wanted a letter to be sent to the Ministry of Justice so that a red notice could be issued by Interpol that could lead to the extradition of the suspect by U.S. judicial authorities.
The case will be tried at Istanbul's Silivri Prison and Correctional Facility, with the first hearings to be held on December 22, 23 and 24.
