Strong criticism continues of terrorism probe against Kimse Yok Mu
Criticism of an investigation conducted by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office against prominent charity Kimse Yok Mu on charges of terrorism is continuing, with intellectuals calling the probe a “farce.”
Yavuz Bülent Bakiler, a prominent Turkish author, told Today's Zaman that the humanitarian activities of charitable organizations such as Kimse Yok Mu are very important for the present and future of society but that “some people motivated by political ideology are against such good work. … This oppression cannot continue. Portraying Kimse Yok Mu officials as if they were members of an armed terrorist organization and associating the sacrifice of animals [for the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Adha] with terrorism are the worst mistakes in the world. I fear someone will soon accuse people of being a member of a terrorist organization for just praying, going on a pilgrimage or fasting.”
Also speaking with Today's Zaman, Turkish-Armenian journalist Hayko Bağdat said the fact that the government accuses people who are critical of it of being terrorists is a threat for the whole of society. “I have no direct links with Kimse Yok Mu; I have no links with its aid activities and also I do not share the same beliefs and worldview as the organization. Despite all of this, I believe labeling a charity a terrorist organization just because this organization does not act in line with the government's interests is not only a threat for the targeted community.”
Pointing to the large-scale smear campaign conducted against the Gülen movement (Hizmet movement) ever since a major corruption and bribery investigation implicating high-ranking government officials and pro-government businessmen became public on Dec. 17, 2013, Bağdat said: “The fact that journalists, schools, institutions and associations inspired by the Hizmet movement are being targeted [by the government] also constitutes a risk to Alevis, Armenians, Kurds and other segments of society. This pressure will turn to another institution, another newspaper or company in the future. This is a horrible situation.”
Kimse Yok Mu is associated with the Gülen movement, which is inspired by the teachings of Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen and has become a target in the battle launched by the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government against Gülen. Several pro-government media outlets are waging a smear campaign, accusing the charity of engaging in illegal fundraising activities despite a lack of evidence.
Commenting on the issue to Today's Zaman, Turkish Search and Rescue Society (AKUT) President Nasuh Mahruki said it is meaningless to call Kimse Yok Mu a terrorist organization, adding that no one will believe such a thing or even have any suspicions about it. “If there is any possible mistake detected in official documents of Kimse Yok Mu, you can hold it accountable for this. But taking a step against the whole association, in which thousands of people take part, is not something that can be condoned,” Mahruki said.
Saying that the terrorism investigation conducted against Kimse Yok Mu without even examining data and official documents of the charity is unlawful, Community Volunteers Association (TOG) Chairman İbrahim Betil told Today's Zaman that those who direct such accusations against the charity must offer proof, adding that he believes Kimse Yok Mu will prove that these accusations are simply slander.
Opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) parliamentary group deputy chairman Oktay Vural told Today's Zaman that the Kimse Yok Mu probe is entirely political and is intended to take revenge by destroying the charity, adding that the terrorist investigation against Kimse Yok Mu is unacceptable.
Businesspeople slam terrorism allegations against Kimse Yok Mu
Metin Topkara, who provides consultancy services to companies exporting to African countries, told Today's Zaman that associating Kimse Yok Mu with terrorism is unacceptable. “I have personally taken part in many aid activities conducted in African countries by Kimse Yok Mu. As a volunteer, I participated in an aid project in Somalia in 2012. Believe me, these volunteers were never frightened and they did their work in a country where terrorists are almost everywhere. Considering this, I am very shocked at the probe launched against Kimse Yok Mu,” Topkara said, adding that the probe “is very unreasonable and unfair.”
Another businessman, Metin H., told Today's Zaman that he had also worked with Kimse Yok Mu as a volunteer, saying that it is very odd that the name of this charity, which works toward world peace, has been associated with terrorism. “Even children find these accusations silly,” he said.
The terrorism investigation recently came to light after Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor Musa Yücel sent a subpoena to Kimse Yok Mu's management asking the charity to send him information about the organization's activities regarding Eid al-Adha in 2011. After receiving the request, the charity's lawyers contacted the prosecutor's office to learn the details of the investigation. When the lawyers went to the Ankara Courthouse, they found that the investigation includes charges of being an "armed terrorist organization." However, as the court had ordered that the details of the investigation remain confidential, the lawyers could not examine the contents of the investigation file.
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