Turkey’s Maarif Foundation takes over FETO School in Ethiopia

Maarif Foundation
Maarif Foundation

Turkish government established the Maarif Foundation in 2016, following the July 15 coup attempt carried out by FETÖ’s military infiltrators.

HARAR, Ethiopia (Anadolu Agency) – A school linked to the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ) was handed over to the Turkish public education body in Ethiopia on 3rd July 2019.

Turkey’s Maarif Foundation took over the school from the FETÖ terror group behind the defeated coup of July 15, 2016 in Turkey, in the eastern Harar province of Ethiopia.

The school provides all levels of education from kindergarten to high school and was established under the name so-called Rainbow Association.

“We hope that the school will be helpful for Ethiopia and the people of Harar,” Cihad Demirli, PhD, a member of the Board of Trustees of the Maarif Foundation, told Anadolu Agency.

Dr. Demirli added that the school would facilitate the peoples of Turkey and Ethiopia getting to know each other better. He expressed pleasure at having taken over the school after efforts lasting two years.

Dr. Demirli said the group was working on taking over other FETÖ-linked schools across Ethiopia.

After the defeated coup, Turkey established the Maarif Foundation to assume the administration of overseas schools linked to FETÖ. It also establishes schools and education centers abroad.

FETÖ and its U.S.-based leader Muhammed Fetullah Gülen orchestrated the 15–16 July 2016 Turkish coup d’état attempt* which left 251 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.

Turkey also accuses FETÖ of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary.

FETÖ has a considerable presence abroad, including private schools which serve as a revenue stream for the terror group.

About Maarif Foundation
Turkish government established the Maarif Foundation in 2016, following the July 15 coup attempt carried out by FETÖ’s military infiltrators. Besides taking over the administration of FETÖ schools overseas, the Maarif Foundation is also tasked with establishing new schools. The Maarif Foundation is currently educating 30,000 students in 270 schools in 35 different countries around the world and has taken charge of nearly 200 schools, previously linked with FETÖ, in 17 countries.

* Fethullah Gülen denied playing a leading role in coup attempt and condemned the attempt.

Source: Anadolu Agency & Daily Sabah