Ohio charter schools among network accused of ‘human trafficking’ and teaching Islam
A British law firm hired by the Turkish government is suing an international Muslim leader who, while exiled in Pennsylvania, has inspired one of the largest publicly funded charter school networks in Ohio and the nation.
Attorney Robert Amsterdam filed the lawsuit in Pennsylvania where Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen has been living in self-exile since 1999. More legal action is coming, Amsterdam said during an invitation-only press conference in Washington, D.C. Wednesday.
The international attorney, who is alleging human rights violations in Turkey, was hired in October by that country’s ruling party. Embattled President Tayyip Erdogan has considered Gulen his primary political foe in an international, religious feud with ties to American charter schools, which are privately run, publicly funded and not permitted to teach religion.
The network of public schools is vast.
The 19 charter schools in Ohio run by Chicago-based Concept schools comprise the bulk of the 30 Gulen schools in the American Midwest. Dozens more exist in Texas, California and elsewhere.
The Ohio schools receive about $50 million annually in taxpayer dollars, and there have been allegations that employees were required to donate pay to the Gulen movement.
The schools exist in Cincinnati, Columbus, Dayton, Euclid, Toledo, Youngstown and are clustered in Cleveland. Since 2009, U.S. Department of Labor documents show the schools brought more than 325 workers from overseas, almost all from Turkey, to teach at the schools.
The Ohio schools, which perform better than most charter schools, have been the subject of multiple FBI raids probing “white collar crimes” involving federal grants. State investigators have looked into, but have not substantiated, allegations that employees doctored student tests or turned a blind eye to sexual misconduct.
The company that runs them and the foundations associated with Gulen have funded Turkish trips for Ohio lawmakers, including House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger.
Although the founders are all Turkish men inspired by Gulen, Concept Schools spokesman Mark Weaver said there is no connection to Gulen.
“They were inspired by Gulen the way I was inspired by Ronald Reagan in college. That’s the grain of truth when people say they are Gulen-affiliated,” Weaver said of his conservative ideals and the founder’s love of Gulen.
The lawsuit alleges that Gulen interests infiltrated Turkish law enforcement and other government agencies and falsely imprisoned the opposition.
Amsterdam is calling for all U.S. politicians to give back any contributions from Gulen-associated donors.
A 2014 Beacon Journal investigation found that Turkish men created the Ohio charter schools and the Chicago company, which has a “department of immigration services.” The Ohio schools, called Horizon or Noble academies, have been ordered by state auditors to repay public money used to hire Ohio charter schools among network accused of ‘human trafficking’ and teaching Islam - Break News - Ohio:
