Iraqi envoy: FETÖ schools, dorms to be taken over

Iraqi Ambassador to Ankara Hisham al-Alawi has confirmed reports that the Iraqi Ministry of Education is beginning the process of transferring the administration of nine schools, which provide their education in English, to the ministry.

Speaking to Daily Sabah on Thursday, Ambassador al-Alawi stated that the Iraqi administration's action against the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ) will not be limited to schools, as he noted that there will be a transfer of the administrations of FETÖ dorms as well.

According to recent information received by Iraq's Ministry of Education, the nine Gülenist schools will be administered by Iraqi officers and teachers, and curriculums will be in coordination with Turkey's embassy in Baghdad.

The transferring process of FETÖ schools to the Iraqi central government's education ministry had begun following the issuing of a bill on Oct. 16. Commenting on the matter, al-Alawi affirmed that an official statement is to be released in order to inform Turkish authorities in due time, as he further noted that the investigation against the Gülenist structure is continuing and that "boarding facilities for students to stay in" are also to be transferred under the same regulation but will remain to serve as dorms.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Turkey's Ambassador to Baghdad Faruk Kaymakçı said diplomatic coordination with Iraq and coordination between both countries' education ministries and the Turkish Maarif Foundation, which has been newly established to carry out educational activities, have been going on for nearly two-and-a-half years abroad.

Following the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) designating FETÖ as a terrorist group in early Oct., the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which Iraq is also a member of, had also listed FETÖ a terror group, while emphasizing their support for Ankara's recent moves against the group.