Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ISTANBUL475
2007-06-04 12:35:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Istanbul
Cable title:
ZEYNEL ERDEM DISCUSSES GULENIST SCHOOLS
how-toVZCZCXRO4397 PP RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLH RUEHPW RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHIT #0475 1551235 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 041235Z JUN 07 FM AMCONSUL ISTANBUL TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7120 INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO PRIORITY 0045 RUEHCD/AMCONSUL CIUDAD JUAREZ PRIORITY RUEHNG/AMCONSUL NOGALES PRIORITY RUEHNL/AMCONSUL NUEVO LAREDO PRIORITY 0001 RUEHTM/AMCONSUL TIJUANA PRIORITY 0001
C O N F I D E N T I A L ISTANBUL 000475
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/14/2007
TAGS: PGOV CVIS TU
SUBJECT: ZEYNEL ERDEM DISCUSSES GULENIST SCHOOLS
REF: ISTANBUL 353
Classified By: CONSUL GENERAL DEBORAH K JONES FOR REASON 1.5 (B)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ISTANBUL 000475
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/14/2007
TAGS: PGOV CVIS TU
SUBJECT: ZEYNEL ERDEM DISCUSSES GULENIST SCHOOLS
REF: ISTANBUL 353
Classified By: CONSUL GENERAL DEBORAH K JONES FOR REASON 1.5 (B)
1. (C) Zeynel Erdem, a wealthy local businessman and
self-described 'advocate for America' (please protect) used a
May 31 appointment with CG to raise two cases of Fetullah
Gulen (FG) adherents who'd recently been barred from entering
the United States. (See reftel for more detail on Gulen and
the FG movement.) Describing his experience with the FG
organization and the Gulen schools network, Erdem said he
visited Gulen in Pennsylvania in mid-May and reported his
health appeared to be good. Erdem is aware of the
problematic nature of Fetullah Gulen's current visa
situation, and told CG he believed the "highest levels" of
the U.S. government were also aware of this case and that
Gulen's immigration status would be given favorable
consideration when a decision is ultimately made.
2. (C) Erdem noted the FG organization operates 18 schools at
the primary and secondary level in Turkey's Southeast, the
region from which Erdem's family originates. His family
foundation provides tens of thousands of dollars in financial
support on a regular basis to Gulen schools operating in that
area. He explained that although he has always requested and
received a makbuz (receipt) for payment, many donors do not
and FG schools do not appear to routinely issue receipts to
donors. FG schools typically solicit funds directly from
local worthies. This may be supplemented by a central
charitable giving mechanism. We cautioned that charity
business practices, in particular accounting for incoming and
outgoing financial donations, had come under great scrutiny
in recent years. In order to avoid the perception of
wrongdoing it would be wise for FG-affiliated charities to
strengthen their business practices and make them more
transparent.
3. (C) Erdem did not describe himself as a FG "follower" per
se (i.e. he does not view Fetullah Gulen as his religious
leader) but believes that there are over 5 million FG
followers in Turkey. The number of Turkish donors is several
times higher in his estimation. FG followers are generally
well-disposed to the United States and the USG, largely
because Fetullah Gulen currently lives in the United States
and the FG organization has been successful in establishing
'over 70' schools there. If the USG were to deport or
otherwise force Fetullah Gulen to depart the United States,
this reservoir of good will would rapidly dry up, Erdem
argued.
4. (C) Erdem cautioned that he was not aware of the current
state of the relationship between PM Erdogan and Fetullah
Gulen but believed it was not close. Several years earlier
he had attempted to broker a telephone conversation between
the two, but was rebuffed by Gulen. In his opinion, FM Gul
and former Interior Minster Abdulkadir Aksu have a much
closer relationship with Gulen.
JONES
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/14/2007
TAGS: PGOV CVIS TU
SUBJECT: ZEYNEL ERDEM DISCUSSES GULENIST SCHOOLS
REF: ISTANBUL 353
Classified By: CONSUL GENERAL DEBORAH K JONES FOR REASON 1.5 (B)
1. (C) Zeynel Erdem, a wealthy local businessman and
self-described 'advocate for America' (please protect) used a
May 31 appointment with CG to raise two cases of Fetullah
Gulen (FG) adherents who'd recently been barred from entering
the United States. (See reftel for more detail on Gulen and
the FG movement.) Describing his experience with the FG
organization and the Gulen schools network, Erdem said he
visited Gulen in Pennsylvania in mid-May and reported his
health appeared to be good. Erdem is aware of the
problematic nature of Fetullah Gulen's current visa
situation, and told CG he believed the "highest levels" of
the U.S. government were also aware of this case and that
Gulen's immigration status would be given favorable
consideration when a decision is ultimately made.
2. (C) Erdem noted the FG organization operates 18 schools at
the primary and secondary level in Turkey's Southeast, the
region from which Erdem's family originates. His family
foundation provides tens of thousands of dollars in financial
support on a regular basis to Gulen schools operating in that
area. He explained that although he has always requested and
received a makbuz (receipt) for payment, many donors do not
and FG schools do not appear to routinely issue receipts to
donors. FG schools typically solicit funds directly from
local worthies. This may be supplemented by a central
charitable giving mechanism. We cautioned that charity
business practices, in particular accounting for incoming and
outgoing financial donations, had come under great scrutiny
in recent years. In order to avoid the perception of
wrongdoing it would be wise for FG-affiliated charities to
strengthen their business practices and make them more
transparent.
3. (C) Erdem did not describe himself as a FG "follower" per
se (i.e. he does not view Fetullah Gulen as his religious
leader) but believes that there are over 5 million FG
followers in Turkey. The number of Turkish donors is several
times higher in his estimation. FG followers are generally
well-disposed to the United States and the USG, largely
because Fetullah Gulen currently lives in the United States
and the FG organization has been successful in establishing
'over 70' schools there. If the USG were to deport or
otherwise force Fetullah Gulen to depart the United States,
this reservoir of good will would rapidly dry up, Erdem
argued.
4. (C) Erdem cautioned that he was not aware of the current
state of the relationship between PM Erdogan and Fetullah
Gulen but believed it was not close. Several years earlier
he had attempted to broker a telephone conversation between
the two, but was rebuffed by Gulen. In his opinion, FM Gul
and former Interior Minster Abdulkadir Aksu have a much
closer relationship with Gulen.
JONES