Municipality shuts down three reading halls in Adıyaman

Sema-Der head Mustafa Tekin speaks to reporters on Friday. (Photo: Cihan)
Sema-Der head Mustafa Tekin speaks to reporters on Friday. (Photo: Cihan)


Date posted: February 23, 2015

Adıyaman Municipality has reportedly closed down three reading halls established to help educate the children of needy and poor families, using scores of police vehicles.

The reading halls were set up by the Sema Education Association (Sema-Der) established by Turkish schools affiliated with the Gülen movement, also known as the Hizmet movement, in cooperation with the Social Support Project (SODES). The reading halls had been the target of the municipality’s negative propaganda but the court decided to stop the implementation of plans to shut down the reading halls, a move that was later hindered by the authorities. A similar case is being tried at the Gaziantep Administrative Court, and the reading halls have been closed by municipal police officers before a final court decision.

Similar events also occurred at İstanbul’s Fatih Education and Culture House, Yunus Emre Education and Culture House in Yeşilyurt and Vefa Education and Culture House in Cumhuriyet. The municipal police officers reportedly used the assistance of a locksmith to open the doors and confiscated all the equipment of the reading halls in each case.

Mehmet Canpolat, a lawyer for Sema-Der, has called the developments an infringement on legal rights, as there been no court decision to shut down the reading halls. Sema-Der head Mustafa Tekin has said what happened to the association’s reading halls is a continuation of the government’s continuing pressure and crackdown on institutions affiliated with the Gülen movement. Tekin said that the association will use legal means to assert their rights.

Source: Today's Zaman , February 20, 2015


Related News

Gülen’s lawyer denies client facing arrest warrant or extradition

Nurullah Albayrak, lawyer for Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, has said that there is no criminal investigation, pending prosecution or any other judicial process ongoing in Turkey related to his client, refuting claims raised once again by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan about Gülen’s possible extradition from the US, where he now lives.

Erdoğan has to respect civil society

ŞAHİN ALPAY Colleagues and friends ask me, “What is the reason for the feud between the government and the Gülen movement and between Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Fethullah Gülen?” This is, briefly, my response. In Turkey the demand for education is very high. Universities are unable to meet the demand and there are […]

Academic freedom at universities under growing threat

Süleyman Yaşar, a former columnist at the Sabah daily who has a broad vision regarding the economic policy of the current government, was fired from the outlet for not criticizing the Hizmet movement [the faith-based organization inspired by Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen]

HIzmet centre takes on Erdogan regime

The London-based Centre for Hizmet Studies has accused Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his regime of systematically trying to provoke the followers of the Hizmet Movement into violence and portray the movement as a violent organisation.

Post-Kemalist Turkey and the Gülen Movement

The Gülen Movement was known for the cool-headed decisions it took at the risk of severe criticism during Turkey’s most difficult times. Today, it would be expected that the same movement will display a similar rationality in a changing Turkey.

The Gülen Movement: a modern expression of Turkish Islam – Interview with Hakan Yavuz

In a way, they [the Gülen movement] represent a new model of Islam in Turkey, at peace with democracy and modernity. This also reflects the Anatolian understanding of Islam, i.e. the Sufi conception of morality is at the centre of the movement. I would consider it as a movement based on the re-imagining of Islam and consisting of loose networks under the guidance and leadership of Fetullah Gülen.

Latest News

Fethullah Gulen – man of education, peace and dialogue – passes away

Fethullah Gülen’s Condolence Message for South African Human Rights Defender Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Hizmet Movement Declares Core Values with Unified Voice

Ankara systematically tortures supporters of Gülen movement, Kurds, Turkey Tribunal rapporteurs say

Erdogan possessed by Pharaoh, Herod, Hitler spirits?

Devious Use of International Organizations to Persecute Dissidents Abroad: The Erdogan Case

A “Controlled Coup”: Erdogan’s Contribution to the Autocrats’ Playbook

Why is Turkey’s Erdogan persecuting the Gulen movement?

Purge-victim man sent back to prison over Gulen links despite stage 4 cancer diagnosis

In Case You Missed It

Hizmet Movement discussed at Mexico’s UNAM

Government plans to unlawfully take over aid organization

Hizmet movement demonized by Erdogan regime but loved abroad

AKP: What is next?

Erdoğan draws ire from all segments of society over bid to close Turkish schools

Nigeria: When Hearts Converged Through the Language Festival

A Cry of the Heart for the Victims of Hurricane Katrina

Copyright 2024 Insightful Neighbor