Turkey to discuss closure of Gulen schools with Sudan

July 26, 2016 (KHARTOUM) – Turkish ambassador to Sudan Tuesday said his country would discuss with the Sudanese government the closure of private schools and charity groups of Gulen Movement in Sudan.

Turkish government accuses the U.S.-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen of being behind the July 15 coup attempt in which at least 246 people were killed. But, the exiled Islamic opponent denies any involvement in the aborted putsch.

Turkey “plans to hold discussions with the Sudanese government on the closure of schools and institutions of the organization of Parallel Entity in Sudan,” Ambassador, Jamaluddin Aydin.

The Parallel Entity is a term used by the Turkish authorities to refer to Gulen Movement which is critical to the government to of President Tayyip Erdogan.

Aydin made his remark in a debate held in Khartoum Tuesday about the July 15 coup attempt. He was asked about whether his government plans to ask Khartoum to shut down Gulen schools.

On Saturday 23 July, the government in Ankara ordered the closure of thousands of private schools and charities in a decree issued by President Erdogan after the imposition of the state of emergency in the country.

Gulen Islamic schools, which are private institutions, have been recently implemented in Sudan and several African countries as Somalia, Mozambique and Guinea.

(ST)