86-year-old Gülen-linked philanthropist arrested on terror (!) charges
Date posted: July 6, 2018
Eighty-six-year-old businessman Celal Afşar was arrested on Thursday along with his daughter, son-in-law and two others in Niğde province as part of an investigation into the faith-based Gülen movement, the tr724 news website reported.
He is known as a philanthropist in his town, with public broadcaster TRT in 2011 depicting his life as an example of dedication to charity.
Afşar was accused of providing financial support to a “terrorist organization.”
Among the arrestees was also the head of the now-closed Kimse Yok Mu charity organization’s Niğde branch.
Turkey survived a coup attempt on July 15, 2016 which the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government accused the Gülen movement of masterminding, although the movement strongly denies it.
According to the latest data released by the Justice Ministry, 203,518 Gülen followers have been investigated in the past five years.
Hizmet is an Islamic movement with activities in more than 180 countries. To its followers, the gulenists, Gulen — a man with swallow feet and low voice who says he spends most of his time praying and studying — is a democrat in favor of the Turkish democratization.
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