Wednesday, May 15, 2024
ADVT 
National

Global Affairs Confirms Another Canadian Arrested In Turkey

The Canadian Press, 28 Jul, 2016 02:25 PM
    Global Affairs Canada says a second Canadian citizen has been detained in Turkey.
     
    Spokesman Francois Lasalle says Canadian consular officials are in contact with Turkish authorities and are providing consular assistance to the family.
     
    Global Affairs would not release the name of the Canadian, citing privacy concerns.
     
    However, the Anatolian Heritage Federation in Ottawa says in a release that the person arrested and detained at the Ataturk Airport in Istanbul is Ilhan Erdem on what it calls "trumped up" allegations.
     
    It cites Turkish media as reporting Erdem is accused of leading the Hizmet movement in Canada.
     
    The Hizmet movement, also known as the Gulen movement, is described as a global network based on the teachings of U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, a critic and former ally of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
     
    The federation says, however, that Erdem's beliefs are "simply aligned with those of Hizmet" and was arrested only because Erdogan "continues to target all detractors ... including peaceful Hizmet participants."  
     
    Nurcan Topcuolgu, a family friend and a member of the federation, says no one has been able to contact Erdem or his wife since they tried to board a flight to Canada on Monday. She says Erdem, his wife and two children were planning a family vacation in Ottawa.
     
    Topcuolgu says Erdem was working as an imam when he lived in Ottawa, but has been working as an education consultant in Turkey for the last three years. 
     
    There was still no concrete word, meanwhile, on why a Calgary man being detained in Turkey has been arrested, amid media reports that he's accused of being a coup plotter.
     
    Davud Hanci, an imam who provides spiritual counselling to prisoners, is apparently being held on accusations he was involved in the July 15 coup attempt in Turkey.
     
    Pictures that had circulated in Turkish media show a man purported to be Hanci with Gulen.
     
    Hanci was allowed to see his wife on Monday, but the visit was too brief to glean much information.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    'Accidental' Shooting In Whalley, 2 People In Hospital

    'Accidental' Shooting In Whalley, 2 People In Hospital
    RCMP were called to the 10700-block of 135A Street at about 3:10 a.m. They found a man suffering from a gunshot wound and a second victim nearby.

    'Accidental' Shooting In Whalley, 2 People In Hospital

    'Balaclava Rapist' Gets Day Parole After More Than 30 Years In Jail

    'Balaclava Rapist' Gets Day Parole After More Than 30 Years In Jail
      Larry Takahashi, 63, was serving three life sentences after admitting to raping at least 30 women in Edmonton in the 1970s and 1980s.

    'Balaclava Rapist' Gets Day Parole After More Than 30 Years In Jail

    Smoke In Ottawa Data Centre Shuts Down Blackberry Email, Phoenix Pay System

    Smoke In Ottawa Data Centre Shuts Down Blackberry Email, Phoenix Pay System
    OTTAWA — Smoke inside a federal data centre this morning has shut down email, some government websites and even the maligned Phoenix payroll system.

    Smoke In Ottawa Data Centre Shuts Down Blackberry Email, Phoenix Pay System

    WestJet Passenger Wants Airline To Change Policy After Loss Of Tiny Gecko

    WestJet Passenger Wants Airline To Change Policy After Loss Of Tiny Gecko
    Meryl Bishop says on Facebook she was required to send the gargoyle gecko to the cargo hold of a WestJet flight during her trip on Sunday.  

    WestJet Passenger Wants Airline To Change Policy After Loss Of Tiny Gecko

    Body Of Missing Calgary Youngster Recovered In Yoho National Park

    Body Of Missing Calgary Youngster Recovered In Yoho National Park
    Parks Canada spokesman Lisa Paulson says the 11-year-old and his nine-year-old brother were jumping on rocks at the edge of the fast-moving river on Friday evening when both youngsters tumbled into the water.

    Body Of Missing Calgary Youngster Recovered In Yoho National Park

    Canadian Armed Forces Warn Pokemon Go Users After 'Occurrences' On Three Bases

    Canadian Armed Forces Warn Pokemon Go Users After 'Occurrences' On Three Bases
    HALIFAX — The Canadian Armed Forces are warning Pokemon Go players — both in and out of uniform — not to search for Pokemon on military property.

    Canadian Armed Forces Warn Pokemon Go Users After 'Occurrences' On Three Bases