According to both a political sociologist who has recently completed a Ph.D dissertation on Fethullah Gulen entitled "Between Islam and the State: the Politics of Engagements" and to a Ph.D candidate in Sociology at the University of Michigan who is currently researching the Fethullah Gulen movement, there are some Fatih University staff members and students who are not Gulen followers (Political Sociologist 7 Sept. 2001; Ph.D candidate 11 Sept. 2001). According to the Ph.D candidate, the majority of faculty members have no connection to Fethullah Gulen and work at the University for "better payment and a prestigious position" (11 Sept. 2001). The Ph.D candidate went on to explain that, although a "significant number" of Fethullah Gulen followers can be identified among the students, students at the University are chosen on the basis of their results in a central examination and their order of university preference (ibid.).

An assistant professor at Fatih University in Turkey agreed that not all staff members and students at the University are Gulen followers (6 Sept. 2001). He also further explained that under the Turkish system, students enter university after taking a state controlled central examination and that individual universities have no choice in the students they will accept (ibid). On their examination forms, students may choose a number of alternative universities and they are placed depending upon their exam results and on their declared preferences (ibid). For more information on the University placement system in Turkey please refer to the attached article.

On 16 March 2001, the Higher Education Board (YOK) ruled that Fatih University was not to accept any students over the 2000-2001 academic year (Turkish Daily News 8 May 2001). The article in the Turkish Daily News links the YOK decision to Fatih's allowance of headscarves on campus and refers to Fatih's "alleged" connection with Fethullah Gulen (ibid). The rector of Fatih University, Professor Turgut Balkas, denied knowledge of any such connection stating:

I have been at this university for three and a half years and was dean of Engineering Faculty before becoming rector. The only thing I have seen at this university with respect to Fethullah Gulen is his picture on the walls of the university before the opening ceremony. I definitely have not seen anything other than this, nor have I felt such a thing. Even had I felt it, I would not have dwelt on it because I have stayed well away from religious communities for a long time now (ibid).

Following Fethullah Gulen's attendance at the University's inauguration ceremony, investigations by state authorities reportedly failed to establish any link between Fatih University and Fethullah Gulen (Turkish Daily News 12 Mar. 2001).

The political sociologist had heard complaints issued by the university's female students regarding the Turkish government's ban on the wearing of the hijab and some parents had also noted that they had experienced pressure from secularist groups and some government authorities (7 Sept. 2001). However, in undertaking field research, no instances of "explicit human rights abuse" were reported to the political sociologist (ibid). The Ph.D candidate stated that the University is "under the constant supervision of the state" and that, due to its connection with Fethullah Gulen followers, there has been more "pressure" placed upon this school than on others (11 Sept. 2001). The assistant professor noted that, on a staff level, past Fatih faculty members had supposedly faced difficulties in finding jobs at other universities (6 Sept. 2001). However, this remark was qualified with the observation that such considerations as the quality of the lecturer must be taken into consideration when weighing such accounts (ibid).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Assistant Professor, Fatih University. Istanbul. 6 September 2001. Correspondence.

Ph.D Candidate in Sociology, University of Michigan. Ann Arbor. 11 September 2001. Correspondence.

Political Sociologist, McGill University. Montréal. 7 September 2001. Correspondence.

Turkish Daily News [Ankara]. 8 May 2001. Murat Aydin. "YOK Decision was Based on Wrong Information." (Financial Times Information/NEXIS)

_____. 12 March 2001. "From the Columns: Hostility and Justice." (Financial Times Information/NEXIS)

Turkish Daily News [Ankara]. July 1999. "Guaranteed Lifelong Unhappiness." (Financial Times Information/NEXIS)

Current History

IRB databases

LEXIS/NEXIS

The Middle East

Middle East Report

The Muslim World

Resource Centre. Country File

Oral Sources:

Various attempts to contact conference participants at "Islamic Identities: Fethullah Gulen and Contemporary Islam"

Internet sites including:

Amnesty International

BBC

CNN

Human Rights Internet

Human Rights Net

Human Rights Watch

Human Rights Without Frontiers

International Coalition of Religious Freedom

International Relations and Security Network

Radio Free Europe

UN News

World News Connection