ANKARA
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday said that the "parallel state" abused the feelings and concerns of Turkish nation at home and abroad through its school network for years.
"They did it at home and abroad and spent money (collected through its school network) to form lobbies against our country," Erdogan said at an opening ceremony for Foundation of Youth and Education in Turkey or TURGEV’s dormitories for students in capital Ankara.
He accused the "parallel state" of collecting money through its donation programs inside and outside the country, and then transferring this money to parties and lobbies that were against Turkey.
According to the Turkish government, "parallel state" refers to U.S.-based preacher Fethullah Gulen’s movement and his supporters.
The government accused the alleged clandestine Gulen movement for masterminding a plot to undermine the elected Turkish government.
Gulen runs a wide network of schools inside Turkey and abroad.
Gulen schools are one of the largest chartered networks of schools in the U.S., with around 146 schools in 26 states, and the majority of teachers are Turkish. The schools reportedly receive approximately $150 million annually through U.S. taxpayers' money.
Erdogan also slammed the "parallel state" for paying low wages to its work force at the schools.
The president again spoke about Turkey’s Ministry of Education’s plan to transform Gulen-run schools abroad into civil foundations that would operate through donations and partial financial support from the Turkish state.
"No one will be aggrieved (through this transition) and teaching services abroad will be conducted by an education foundation led by the Ministry of Education," Erdogan said.
About the schools at home, he pledged to continue providing accommodation, scholarship, education and aid services for the students.
