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August 31, 2016

As alleged coup plotter's movement contracts in Africa, some worry over power vacuum

People hold a plane model with attached toy, depicting opposition cleric in exile Fethullah Gulen, during the Democracy and Martyrs Rally, organized by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Aug. 7, 2016. As Turkish authorities push to close Gules-affiliated schools in Africa, some worry that it will leave a religious vacuum for the Islamic State to fill.

NAIROBI, Kenya – As Turkish authorities push for the closure of African schools affiliated with Imam Fethullah Gulen — accused of masterminding this summer’s coup attempt in Turkey — some caution that the crackdown could inadvertently benefit Islamic fundamentalists on the continent.

Published in International
August 4, 2016

Religious freedom threatened by Turkey’s response to coup

Supporters of Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan celebrate July16 at Taksim Square in Istanbul after a failed coup attempt. Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said more than 200 people were killed during the failed coup attempt.

Civil service purges and mass arrests in Turkey since a July 15 failed coup attempt are bad news for religious freedom in what has been one of the Muslim world’s most open and democratic societies, said Canada’s former ambassador for religious freedom.

Published in International