Gulen schools in Iraqi Kurdistan say 'We are private companies,'

Private Ishik University, Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan. Photo: Wikipedia

HEWLÊR-Erbil, Iraq’s Kurdistan region,—Schools and educational centres in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region associated with the Gulen movement have insisted they are a private company operating under the Kurdish Ministry of Education and have no ties to Turkey.

“In short, we are a Kurdistan company,” an official at the schools told Rudaw, speaking anonymously. “Our institutions operate under the directives and regulations of the Kurdistan Ministry of Education.”

The schools have come under the spotlight after reports emerged that Ankara had requested Erbil to close the schools associated with Fethullah Gulen and his movement, which Turkey considers a terrorist organization and behind the failed coup attempt last July.

“We have not been officially asked to shut down these schools,” Safeen Dizayee, Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) spokesperson, told Rudaw. But he acknowledged that the matter had been discussed with Turkish officials.

“We talked with the Turkish consulate in Erbil on this regard,” Dizayee said, adding, “The KRG will not close these schools.”

“What matters most to us is the future of the students,” he said.

Approximately 13,000 students are studying at 20 educational centers belonging to the Gulen movement, ranging from kindergarten to university.

While the schools will not be closed, they will be brought under the purview of the Ministry of Education for the time being.

The Turkish Sabah Daily reported on Monday that the Gulen Hizmet Organization’s imam in Iraqi Kurdistan was extradited to Turkey by the KRG.

Nurettin Aytuğ, who was attempting to provide an appropriate environment for several Hizmet Organization members to continue their activities in Iraqi Kurdistan after the Turkey’s failed coup attempt on July 15, was handed over to Turkey at the Habur Border Gate on the Iraqi Kurdistan border.

Turkey says Gulen is the mastermind behind the failed July 15-16 putsch that attempted to overthrow the government. Gulen denies the charges.

So far, tens of thousands of people in Turkey – including police, judges and teachers – have been suspended or placed under investigation since the July coup, which Turkey says was staged by a faction within the military loyal to Fethullah Gulen.

Ankara has also shut down hundreds of schools and universities in the country on charges of affiliation with the Gulen movement and attempts to undermine state power.