More on Erdogan backer Fetullah Gulen

I have previously written about the Fetullah Gulen and his movement , and their influence in Turkey. I have drawn special attention to their support for Turkish PM Erdogan,and Erdogan's support for the SDGT Yassin Al-Kadi ( http://www.terrorfinance.org/the_terror_finance_blog/2007/08/erdoganakp-back.html )

The article also draws attention to the charges brought against Gulen by previous Turkish Governments, in regards to his attempts to establish an Islamic state in Turkey.

A part of the Gulen organisation is the Society for Social and Economic Solidarity with Pacific Countries (PASIAD).

PASIAD serves at least 3 functions:

a) to promote trade and development by assisting Turkish and Asian businessmen establish contact with each other. (see http://en.fgulen.com/content/view/2198/31/ )

b) the establishment of Turkish schools. In 2004, 4 teachers at a PASIAD school in the Philippines were arrested on suspicion of involvement in terrorist activities.The school is located in the southern Philippines city of Cotobato, where the Moro Islamic Liberation Front is active.(see ( http://www.iht.com/articles/2004/04/02/a1_9.php)

c) propagation of the Islamic faith

In regards to paragraph a), attention is drawn to the fact that PASIAD funds study tours of Turkey by persons with whom Gulen chapters in various countries have sought to build relations. In Australia PASIAD funded a tour of Turkey by an assistant commissioner of police, Ken Lay and his wife. The tour included meetings with various business people in Turkey .( http://www.intercultural.org.au/edialogue/2007/August/index.html )

The assistant commissioner has refused to respond to all queries sent him regarding his trip to Turkey and the business people he met. The questions were put to him in context of Erdogan's support for the SDGT Yassin Al-Kadi.

In regards to paragraph b), attention is drawn to the following matters:

Gulen schools in Russia and Central Asia have been investigated, some closed down for encouraging fundamentalism ,and the terrorism that springs from it (see for example http://www.eurasianet.org/resource/azerbaijan/hypermail/200202/0031.shtml )

In the 1990s, the growth in Turkey of both political Islam and an Islamic-driven pan-Turkism that envisions uniting all the Turkic-- speaking nations from the Mediterranean to China, created problems for Turkey in Central Asia. In 1999, Tashkent shut down the Turkish schools in Uzbekistan run by the Turkish Sufi cleric Fetullah Gulen, accusing them of supporting Islamic groups. (The fires of faith in Central Asia,Ahmed Rashid,1 April 2001,World Policy Journal

45-55,Volume 18, Issue 1)

Even in the Gulen movement's own words , there was little difference between Gulen and the Gray Wolves, best known outside Turkey for the attempted assassination of the late Pope John Paul II by one of their members , Mehmet Ali Agca ( see http://en.fgulen.com/content/view/1208/23/)

In regards to paragraph c), suffice to say that being Sufi has not prevented the Gulen movement in PASIAD from working with Sunni groups such as the World Civilization Research Group of Malaysia (or by the Malay acronym , GPTD).

The GPTD is part of the Malaysian Muslim Youth Force (ABIM), founded by Anwar Ibrahim of the International Institute of Islamci Thought. ABIM continues to maintain strong links with the IIIT even as the latter is being investigated for financing terrorism related activities in the US and elsewhere.

Comments

[Osman Sen]

I don't understand how you link things together. Fethullah Gulen has met several Christian leaders including the pope. He is accused of being a disguised Christian missioner by the Turkish fundamentalists for his meetings with the Christian leaders and his thoughts for interfaith dialogue. All I can tell is that you have a similar logic with those fundamentalists in linking irrelevant things. If you try you can easily find Gulen-influenced organizations working with Jewish and Christian organizations.

While there are hundreds of Gulen-influenced schools throughout the world, only a few of them are shut down due to various conflicts with the local politicians, etc. You can not both promote intercultural dialogue and fundamentalism at the same time. Your article is obviously biased. Do dig more and tell about everything you find before making a conclusion; do not just pick the facts that will strengthen your suggestion.

[Osman Sen]

Btw, the info you provide on 4 Turkish teachers being arrested in Philippines is out of date. They were arrested by mistake:

"Four Turkish men working as teachers at a private school in the southern Philippines have been detained by immigration agents on suspected terror links, but officials said the arrests appeared to be a mistake and the Turks would be released soon."

http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?id=1169
http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/archives.php?id=35918

The Turkish school in Saint Petersburg, Russia was shut down but they won the trial and the school is open back.

http://www.rusya.ru/tur/index/news?id=6914

[Nicole]

I would like to know more about this man and how he is connected to the Harmony Science Academy schools that are in the United States. If he is involved in this kind of activity, why are his followers allowed to open schools here?

[bill]

Nicole givee your contact informatoin. I had been threatened as well as others when we discovered Gulen and started to talk about him here in the US.

Read this. Many parents are really concerned!!

http://www.sltrib.com/education/ci_12855515

How is he connected? read these
http://www.turkishforum.com.tr/en/content/2009/06/23/fetullah-gulens-schools-are-all-over-the-us/comment-page-1/#comment-33528

http://www.actforamerica.org/index.php/learn/email-archives/1069-fethulla-gulen-infiltrating-the-us-through-our-charter-schools

notify all parents blog about it and remove your children.

[Lisa Martell]

www.charterschoolwatchdog.com

www.thelastcrusade.org

http://turkishinvitations.weebly.com/

Beehive Science Academy - Utah to CLOSE

Chesapeake Science Academy closed- Gulen has numerious foundations and institutes, where money is flowing in and out. Plus this is supported by our tax dollars because it is charter schools with a Turkish Flair.

Plenty of information on the internet. Check myvisas for information on how many HB-1 Visas they are bringing in uncredentialed teachers from Turkey. Harmoney from 2001 to 2009 had over 1,100 visas issued for teachers.

[Lisa Martell]

Lastly to the Gulenite above who throws out Gulen has met "christian leaders" and the Pope. He met the last pope over 20 years ago, they had a photo opportunity 1 time.
They didn't have any other communication. The other Christian leaders are invited to the numerous interfaith dialogues that Gulenites own throughout the USA
Gulen is a fraud, he left Turkey and lives in seclusion for a reason. (as most cults do) He owns media: the Fountain, Zaman and ERBU TV, plus he owns and operates 97 US charter Schools in the USA.

[Lisa Martell]

The poster above Osman Sen is on the Accord Institute's Board. this is one of the numerious foundations that funds Gulen's Charter Schools. Accord works with the schools out west
Magnolia Science Academy
Bay Area Technology
Cora Science Academy

Osman Sen go ahead and deny the schools are not connected to Gulen or say "Gulen inspired" or the best lie "some of the teachers might follow Gulen" but the gig is up --HIS TER