New Charter School and Voucher Bills Could Fund Islamic Schools
Pennsylvania stronghold of Islamic Leader may teach terrorism
Pennsylvania stronghold of Islamic Leader may teach terrorism
(Harrisburg)- In light of the killing of Osama bin Laden last week, government leadership advised continued precaution against the threat of retaliatory terrorism in America at the hands of surviving al-Qaida masterminds. A recent article by the Associated Press addresses the issue of persisting terrorist threats and states: “Would-be successors to the terror leader pose a threat as they jostle for power and attention. And other jihadists inspired by the extremist messages may decide to act on their own -- a threat that law enforcement officials say is much harder to detect and prevent.”
Pennsylvania may be hiding a terrorist mastermind, unbeknownst to Pennsylvanians, disguised as a well-meaning charter school magnate. The FBI and U.S. Departments of Labor and Education are already watching the tactics of Pennsylvania Islamic charter school magnate Fetullah Gulen, who already has two Islamic charter schools within the Commonwealth. Gulen and his followers are secretive about their tactics and motives and could prove to harbor pro-Islamic reactionaries.
According to a recent article in the Philadelphia Inquirer, Gulen has already manipulated authorities into granting him a green card. His native Turkey all but extradited him on charges that he attempted to overthrow the secular government in favor of an Islamic institution. In order to acquire residency in the U.S., Gulen claimed that he was integral to the education system in America. The article states that “the American charter schools were a central part of Gulen’s argument that won him a green card after the Department of Homeland Security ruled that he did not meet the qualifications of an ‘alien of extraordinary ability’ to receive a special visa.”
Within his PA schools, Gulen has already resorted to replacing certified PA teachers with “uncertified Turkish men who often spoke limited English and were paid higher salaries.” Gulen schools are funding by Pennsylvania taxpayers. “Charter schools are public schools,” said Tansu Cidav, the acting chief executive officer of Truebright Science Academy, a Gulen school in Philadelphia. “Gulenists use heavy-handed tactics to market their charter schools to parents. Gulenists pressure current and former students, parents and teachers to write favorable reviews or letters for their schools, nominate their schools or teachers for awards, and speak favorably of the schools to the public. Press releases are constantly issued regarding any perceived accomplishment of the schools, no matter how small. In talking to the press, Gulenists stretch the truth, often to the breaking point.”
PA teachers constantly fight for their benefits and salaries. The growth of Gulen schools and the replacement of PA certified teachers with uncertified Gulenist instructors further endanger the stability of the public school system.
“Another aim of Gulen schools,” says the Inquirer article, “is fostering goodwill toward Turkey, which is led by Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the pro-Islamic prime minister, whose government recently detained journalists after they alleged that Gulen followers were infiltrating security agencies.” Indeed, Gulenists do not allow people to speak against their movement and threaten to sue anyone who does.
Simply because America successfully killed its number-one enemy in the War on Terror does not mean that the war is over. Given the secretive and manipulative tendencies of such extremists, it is quite possible that many are hiding in our midst and covertly influencing American children.
Sources:
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