Two dormitories in İstanbul’s Beylikdüzü district that belonged to the faith-based Gülen movement but have been seized by the government due to a heavy crackdown it has launched on the movement have been transferred to the pro-government Ensar Foundation, which came to public attention earlier this year due to child abuse allegations, according to a local newspaper.
According to a report in the Yerel Kulis newspaper, which is published in Beylikdüzü, the Hasırcılar Men’s Dormitory, which has a bed-capacity of 105, and the Gürpınar Women’s Dormitory have been transferred to the Ensar Foundation.
In March, Turkey was shaken by news of a child abuse scandal in the central province of Karaman. As many as 45 boys were allegedly abused by a male teacher in houses operated by the pro-government Ensar Foundation in the province.
Following the eruption of the scandal, many government officials made statements in defense of the Ensar Foundation, describing the incident as an “isolated one.” None of them called on the Ensar Foundation to give an accounting of the incident.
Hundreds of schools, dormitories and foundations linked to the Gülen movement were closed down by the government in the aftermath of a failed coup attempt on July 15 as the government accuses the movement of masterminding the failed coup. The movement strongly denies any involvement.