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

    Nova Scotia Father Convicted In Assault That 'Crushed' 3-Week-Old Son's Skull 'Like An Egg'

    Nova Scotia Father Convicted In Assault That 'Crushed' 3-Week-Old Son's Skull 'Like An Egg'
    Today, the boy is four-and-a-half, cannot walk and has "significant mental and physical challenges."

    Nova Scotia Father Convicted In Assault That 'Crushed' 3-Week-Old Son's Skull 'Like An Egg'

    Prolific Car Thief Arrested And 19 Charged In Surrey

    Prolific Car Thief Arrested And 19 Charged In Surrey
    Surrey RCMP’s Auto Crime Target Team (ACTT) has arrested a prolific car thief twice in less than a month, resulting in a total of 19 charges being laid.

    Prolific Car Thief Arrested And 19 Charged In Surrey

    Man In Wheelchair Struck, Killed By Train At New Brunswick Railway Crossing

    Man In Wheelchair Struck, Killed By Train At New Brunswick Railway Crossing
      RCMP Const. Derek Black said the man from Moncton was on the tracks at a crossing near Robinson and Victoria streets when he was hit by the train at 1:45 a.m.

    Man In Wheelchair Struck, Killed By Train At New Brunswick Railway Crossing

    Giant Hose Awaits Pumps To Move Vital Water Into Saskatchewan City

    Giant Hose Awaits Pumps To Move Vital Water Into Saskatchewan City
    The line — essentially a giant hose — runs about 30 kilometres to the South Saskatchewan River, but Jim Toye says pumps to move the water are not ready.

    Giant Hose Awaits Pumps To Move Vital Water Into Saskatchewan City

    Nanaimo RCMP Arrest Suspect Traced Through Uploaded Selfie On Stolen iPhone

    Nanaimo RCMP Arrest Suspect Traced Through Uploaded Selfie On Stolen iPhone
    The 39-year-old was arrested less than 48 hours after the selfie was circulated on social media.

    Nanaimo RCMP Arrest Suspect Traced Through Uploaded Selfie On Stolen iPhone

    Annual Review Off For Mentally Ill B.C. Father Who Killed His Three Children

    The province's Criminal Justice Branch says Allan Schoenborn consented to delaying this Thursday's hearing while B.C. Crown lawyers seek to have him designated a "high-risk" accused, tightening his restrictions for confinement.

    Annual Review Off For Mentally Ill B.C. Father Who Killed His Three Children