Leader of charter schools in Ohio once again linked to unrest in Turkey
Lead Summary
By
Rory Ryan-hcpress@cinci.rr.com
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is calling on the United States to extradite an Islamic cleric and Ohio charter school leader living in Pennsylvania, following the attempted military coup in Turkey this weekend.
Erdogan said Turkey has never refused a request by the United States to extradite “terrorists” and referenced the U.S./Turkey relationship as partners in an effort to force the return of Fethullah Gulen.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said the Obama administration would consider the extradition request but Turkey would have to prove wrongdoing by Gulen.
Kerry also took issue with Erdogan's insinuations that the U.S. played a part in the failed coup that left 265 dead and 1,440 wounded.
Erdogan claims Gulen is behind the attempted coup, and the United States is harboring him.
{Secretary Kerry} made clear that the United States would be willing to provide assistance to Turkish authorities conducting this investigation, but that public insinuations or claims about any role by the United States in the failed coup attempt are utterly false and harmful to our bilateral relations," Kerry spokesman John Kirby said late Saturday.
Gulen has denied knowledge of the coup.
“Turkey will not be run from a house in Pennsylvania,” Erdogan said Saturday.
In December 2014, The Highland County Press presented an in-depth report on Gulen, a charter school leader, and possible government unrest in Turkey.
See http://www.highlandcountypress.com/Content/In-The-News/In-The-News/Article/Leader-of-charter-schools-in-Ohio-linked-to-possible-government-unrest-in-Turkey/2/20/25699
In 2014, a prosecutor reportedly had asked a Turkish court to issue an arrest warrant for Gulen, the honorary president of the Niagara Foundation, whom President Erdogan accuses of trying to overthrow him, according to a report by a London newspaper. (See: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/dec/19/turkey-arrest-warrant-fethullah-gulen.)
In a Christmas Eve 2014 email from Ohio Coalition for Equity and Adequacy in School Funding Executive Director William Phillis, a recent report in The Columbus Dispatch had indicated a warrant may have been issued for Gulen. Other reports said a warrant has not been issued.
"The Gülen movement operates about 150 tax-supported charter schools in the United States, 19 of which are in Ohio," Phillis said. "The Gulen schools have been the subject of investigations by state and federal agencies.
“In spite of the investigations, these schools seem to enjoy protection from state and federal officials. International politics seem to be at play. Meanwhile, these suspect charter schools keep sucking funds from Ohio school districts," Phillis said.
According to its website (see: http://ohiocoalition.org), the Ohio Coalition for Equity & Adequacy of School Funding is organized as a council of governments pursuant to Chapter 167 of the Ohio Revised Code. The coalition was organized in 1990 to challenge the constitutionality of the Ohio school funding system. The coalition is governed by a steering committee of 90 school district representatives.
In a Reuters report from Ankara, Turkey on Dec. 23, 2014, President Erdogan "has refrained from naming Gulen, but years of disagreements between the two men spilled out into the open last month over a government plan to abolish private 'prep” schools,' including those run by Gulen’s Hizmet movement."
Writing on the Akron Schools website in July 2014 (see: http://www.akronschools.com/headlines/1068), Phillis cited a July 5 Akron Beacon Journal article (http://www.ohio.com/news/break-news/ohio-taxpayers-provide-jobs-to-turkish-immigrants-through-charter-schools-1.501940), which reported that "politicians, including (now) Speaker of the House Rep. Cliff Rosenberger, have been favored with all-expense-paid trips to Turkey."
Rosenberger’s office did not answer Beacon Journal requests for information, according to the report.
Rosenberger represents Highland, Clinton and Pike counties in Ohio's 91st House District.
"The Gulen movement's influence in Ohio and U.S. government is substantial,” Phillis said. “The Gulenists approach government and business officials with the agenda of promoting education, economic development and amicable relationships while keeping their Gulen connections under the radar. They come bearing gifts, such as campaign contributions and junkets to Turkey."
The Akron Beacon Journal published this link to some of the campaign contributions by Concept School workers: http://www.ohio.com/polopoly_fs/1.502126.1404625723!/menu/standard/file/campaign.pdf.
As reported in 2011, (then) State Reps. Cliff Rosenberger, R-Clarksville, Peter Beck, R-Mason, (a former Ohio lawmaker who resigned amid criminal charges) and Bob Peterson, R-Sabina, led a trade mission to Turkey with the goal of exporting more Ohio products and to encourage economic growth in Ohio.
The Niagara Foundation, “a non-profit organization committed to improving relations between Turkey and the United States,” sponsored the trade delegation. (See: http://www.highlandcountypress.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=11004&SectionID=2&SubSectionID=73&S=1.)
Meanwhile, a daily newspaper in Turkey, The Daily Sabah, owned by Turkuvaz Media Group, (see: http://www.dailysabah.com/politics/2014/12/22/gulen-explode-yourselves-like-a-bomb-against-the-us) said it "has been discovered that Gulen, who claims to base his movement on dialogue and tolerance amongst different religions, has previously made radical remarks encouraging Muslims to destroy 'infidels.'"
The newspaper reports: "Gulen's call for taking violent action against non-Muslims can be traced to the voice recording of a sermon which he preached in the 1980s following the 1980 coup d'état, when he left the city of Izmir and traveled to different cities in Anatolia.
According to the newspaper, in a recording Gulen, can be heard as saying "We will ruin the plots of America and reveal their true side."
"These are particularly remarkably radical and controversial sentiments given he has been living in the U.S. in self-imposed exile since 1999," the newspaper said.
The Niagara Foundation (http://www.niagarafoundation.org/niagara/fethullah-gulen/) says Gulen is a "Turkish Muslim scholar, thinker and poet, as well as an educational and humanitarian activist. He is regarded as the initiator and inspiration of the worldwide social movement known as Hizmet, which translates to service and is also known simply as the Gulen Movement. Gulen is noted for his pro-democracy, pro-science, pro-dialogue and anti-violence positions. In 2013, he was named one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world."
In 2014, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Ohio Department of Education began looking at allegations of misconduct among some charter schools in Ohio. (See: http://www.toledoblade.com/Education/2014/07/19/FBI-state-investigate-charter-schools-owner.html and http://www.highlandcountypress.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=23795&SectionID=2&SubSectionID=75&S=1.)
Additionally, The Lorain Chronicle-Telegram reported in 2014 that many charter schools are funded better than public schools. (See: http://chronicle.northcoastnow.com/2014/12/17/many-charter-schools-funded-better-public-schools-website-shows/.)
Writing for The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer on Dec. 30, George Wood, the superintendent of the Federal Hocking Local School District in Athens County, said "Ohio's charter schools are a mess." (See: http://www.cleveland.com/opinion/index.ssf/2014/12/ohios_charter_school_mess_dont.html.)
"Many states with charter schools do not allow for-profit charter school operators," Wood said. "Apparently, they believe their taxpayers do not want tax dollars spent on failing schools that line the pockets of private investors. Could Ohio legislators and the governor be convinced of the same thing? Don't hold your breath.
"In Ohio politics, money talks. And the money that is talking in Columbus says simply leave the broken charter system alone. Gov. Kasich has promised to 'get tough' on failing charters in his new legislative and budget agenda to come out in January. We shall see. Anything short of shutting down the for-profit sector of the charter industry is a waste of his time, and of our tax dollars."
Of the $920 million in public funding that goes to charter schools, $503 million went to schools managed by for-profit firms, Wood said.
"The blatant misuses of tax revenue by the charter operators, the financial harm to school districts via deductions of state and local dollars for the Wild West charter industry and the fraud and corruption threaded through a significant sector of the charter experiment have gained the attention of concerned citizens," Phillis said this week.
"In 2015, possibly the voice of Ohioans will overcome the influence of the filthy lucre that has been driving the charter train."
Meanwhile, Secretary of State Kerry spoke Saturday, July 16 with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.
From http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2016/07/260148.htm:
"The foreign minister provided an update on events in Turkey, and made clear the Turkish government remains in control of state institutions.
"The secretary reiterated U.S. support for the democratically elected government in Turkey, for the rule of law and for the need for authorities to take all necessary precautions to safeguard civilian life and property as they respond to this attempted coup.
"Kerry also urged restraint by the Turkish government and respect for due process – and its international obligations – as it investigates and uncovers additional information about those involved. He made clear that the United States would be willing to provide assistance to Turkish authorities conducting this investigation, but that public insinuations or claims about any role by the United States in the failed coup attempt are utterly false and harmful to our bilateral relations."
Erdogan said Turkey has never refused a request by the United States to extradite “terrorists” and referenced the U.S./Turkey relationship as partners in an effort to force the return of Fethullah Gulen.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said the Obama administration would consider the extradition request but Turkey would have to prove wrongdoing by Gulen.
Kerry also took issue with Erdogan's insinuations that the U.S. played a part in the failed coup that left 265 dead and 1,440 wounded.
Erdogan claims Gulen is behind the attempted coup, and the United States is harboring him.
{Secretary Kerry} made clear that the United States would be willing to provide assistance to Turkish authorities conducting this investigation, but that public insinuations or claims about any role by the United States in the failed coup attempt are utterly false and harmful to our bilateral relations," Kerry spokesman John Kirby said late Saturday.
Gulen has denied knowledge of the coup.
“Turkey will not be run from a house in Pennsylvania,” Erdogan said Saturday.
In December 2014, The Highland County Press presented an in-depth report on Gulen, a charter school leader, and possible government unrest in Turkey.
See http://www.highlandcountypress.com/Content/In-The-News/In-The-News/Article/Leader-of-charter-schools-in-Ohio-linked-to-possible-government-unrest-in-Turkey/2/20/25699
In 2014, a prosecutor reportedly had asked a Turkish court to issue an arrest warrant for Gulen, the honorary president of the Niagara Foundation, whom President Erdogan accuses of trying to overthrow him, according to a report by a London newspaper. (See: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/dec/19/turkey-arrest-warrant-fethullah-gulen.)
In a Christmas Eve 2014 email from Ohio Coalition for Equity and Adequacy in School Funding Executive Director William Phillis, a recent report in The Columbus Dispatch had indicated a warrant may have been issued for Gulen. Other reports said a warrant has not been issued.
"The Gülen movement operates about 150 tax-supported charter schools in the United States, 19 of which are in Ohio," Phillis said. "The Gulen schools have been the subject of investigations by state and federal agencies.
“In spite of the investigations, these schools seem to enjoy protection from state and federal officials. International politics seem to be at play. Meanwhile, these suspect charter schools keep sucking funds from Ohio school districts," Phillis said.
According to its website (see: http://ohiocoalition.org), the Ohio Coalition for Equity & Adequacy of School Funding is organized as a council of governments pursuant to Chapter 167 of the Ohio Revised Code. The coalition was organized in 1990 to challenge the constitutionality of the Ohio school funding system. The coalition is governed by a steering committee of 90 school district representatives.
In a Reuters report from Ankara, Turkey on Dec. 23, 2014, President Erdogan "has refrained from naming Gulen, but years of disagreements between the two men spilled out into the open last month over a government plan to abolish private 'prep” schools,' including those run by Gulen’s Hizmet movement."
Writing on the Akron Schools website in July 2014 (see: http://www.akronschools.com/headlines/1068), Phillis cited a July 5 Akron Beacon Journal article (http://www.ohio.com/news/break-news/ohio-taxpayers-provide-jobs-to-turkish-immigrants-through-charter-schools-1.501940), which reported that "politicians, including (now) Speaker of the House Rep. Cliff Rosenberger, have been favored with all-expense-paid trips to Turkey."
Rosenberger’s office did not answer Beacon Journal requests for information, according to the report.
Rosenberger represents Highland, Clinton and Pike counties in Ohio's 91st House District.
"The Gulen movement's influence in Ohio and U.S. government is substantial,” Phillis said. “The Gulenists approach government and business officials with the agenda of promoting education, economic development and amicable relationships while keeping their Gulen connections under the radar. They come bearing gifts, such as campaign contributions and junkets to Turkey."
The Akron Beacon Journal published this link to some of the campaign contributions by Concept School workers: http://www.ohio.com/polopoly_fs/1.502126.1404625723!/menu/standard/file/campaign.pdf.
As reported in 2011, (then) State Reps. Cliff Rosenberger, R-Clarksville, Peter Beck, R-Mason, (a former Ohio lawmaker who resigned amid criminal charges) and Bob Peterson, R-Sabina, led a trade mission to Turkey with the goal of exporting more Ohio products and to encourage economic growth in Ohio.
The Niagara Foundation, “a non-profit organization committed to improving relations between Turkey and the United States,” sponsored the trade delegation. (See: http://www.highlandcountypress.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=11004&SectionID=2&SubSectionID=73&S=1.)
Meanwhile, a daily newspaper in Turkey, The Daily Sabah, owned by Turkuvaz Media Group, (see: http://www.dailysabah.com/politics/2014/12/22/gulen-explode-yourselves-like-a-bomb-against-the-us) said it "has been discovered that Gulen, who claims to base his movement on dialogue and tolerance amongst different religions, has previously made radical remarks encouraging Muslims to destroy 'infidels.'"
The newspaper reports: "Gulen's call for taking violent action against non-Muslims can be traced to the voice recording of a sermon which he preached in the 1980s following the 1980 coup d'état, when he left the city of Izmir and traveled to different cities in Anatolia.
According to the newspaper, in a recording Gulen, can be heard as saying "We will ruin the plots of America and reveal their true side."
"These are particularly remarkably radical and controversial sentiments given he has been living in the U.S. in self-imposed exile since 1999," the newspaper said.
The Niagara Foundation (http://www.niagarafoundation.org/niagara/fethullah-gulen/) says Gulen is a "Turkish Muslim scholar, thinker and poet, as well as an educational and humanitarian activist. He is regarded as the initiator and inspiration of the worldwide social movement known as Hizmet, which translates to service and is also known simply as the Gulen Movement. Gulen is noted for his pro-democracy, pro-science, pro-dialogue and anti-violence positions. In 2013, he was named one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world."
In 2014, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Ohio Department of Education began looking at allegations of misconduct among some charter schools in Ohio. (See: http://www.toledoblade.com/Education/2014/07/19/FBI-state-investigate-charter-schools-owner.html and http://www.highlandcountypress.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=23795&SectionID=2&SubSectionID=75&S=1.)
Additionally, The Lorain Chronicle-Telegram reported in 2014 that many charter schools are funded better than public schools. (See: http://chronicle.northcoastnow.com/2014/12/17/many-charter-schools-funded-better-public-schools-website-shows/.)
Writing for The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer on Dec. 30, George Wood, the superintendent of the Federal Hocking Local School District in Athens County, said "Ohio's charter schools are a mess." (See: http://www.cleveland.com/opinion/index.ssf/2014/12/ohios_charter_school_mess_dont.html.)
"Many states with charter schools do not allow for-profit charter school operators," Wood said. "Apparently, they believe their taxpayers do not want tax dollars spent on failing schools that line the pockets of private investors. Could Ohio legislators and the governor be convinced of the same thing? Don't hold your breath.
"In Ohio politics, money talks. And the money that is talking in Columbus says simply leave the broken charter system alone. Gov. Kasich has promised to 'get tough' on failing charters in his new legislative and budget agenda to come out in January. We shall see. Anything short of shutting down the for-profit sector of the charter industry is a waste of his time, and of our tax dollars."
Of the $920 million in public funding that goes to charter schools, $503 million went to schools managed by for-profit firms, Wood said.
"The blatant misuses of tax revenue by the charter operators, the financial harm to school districts via deductions of state and local dollars for the Wild West charter industry and the fraud and corruption threaded through a significant sector of the charter experiment have gained the attention of concerned citizens," Phillis said this week.
"In 2015, possibly the voice of Ohioans will overcome the influence of the filthy lucre that has been driving the charter train."
Meanwhile, Secretary of State Kerry spoke Saturday, July 16 with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.
From http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2016/07/260148.htm:
"The foreign minister provided an update on events in Turkey, and made clear the Turkish government remains in control of state institutions.
"The secretary reiterated U.S. support for the democratically elected government in Turkey, for the rule of law and for the need for authorities to take all necessary precautions to safeguard civilian life and property as they respond to this attempted coup.
"Kerry also urged restraint by the Turkish government and respect for due process – and its international obligations – as it investigates and uncovers additional information about those involved. He made clear that the United States would be willing to provide assistance to Turkish authorities conducting this investigation, but that public insinuations or claims about any role by the United States in the failed coup attempt are utterly false and harmful to our bilateral relations."