KRG "Seized, Sold Gulen Schools"

Gulenist influence has over the years been spread through the students, graduates and employees affiliated with its various organizations. Students enrolled in Gulenist schools, which have a strong Islamic character, learn Turkish, Kurdish, Arabic and English. Male and female students are segregated, and students are taught a religious curriculum within the adopted scientific disciplines.

In Erbil, the Gulenists established the Nilufer high school for girls and Ishik high school for boys, and in Sulaimaniya, they founded the Saladin high school for boys and Sulaimaniya high school for girls.

A focus on the Turkish language gives the movement’s institutions a national character. Hiwa Zanyar, 17, a student at the Sulaimaniya girls’ school, told Al-Monitor, “Students learn the Turkish language beginning in primary school. These schools play a big role in Kurdish students’ attachment and attraction to Turkey.”

This is probably one reason Turkey did not previously agitate against them, despite the sharp differences between Erdogan and Gulen. The coup attempt, however, apparently led Erdogan to change his stance.

Zanyar said that the sons of Muslim leaders in the Kurdistan region have often studied in Gulenist schools. She said many of them also joined the movement, supporting the Gulenist interpretation of Islam and seeking work in Gulenist organizations after graduation. According to Zanyar, school administrations were diligent about maintaining contact with students after graduation.

It would appear that despite the KRG's recent moves, overcoming Gulenist influence will likely require a lot of time and effort.

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