US officials reject FETO-linked schools in Tennessee

By Safvan Allahverdi

WASHINGTON

U.S. officials in Tennessee on Wednesday, rejected the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) linked READ Foundation's application for three new schools in the state.

The Shelby District Board of Education was concerned about contradictory financial links between the foundation and the proposed schools, and an insufficient curriculum copied from another FETO-linked school in Washington, D.C., the Harmony Public Schools.

"The application did not address many of the questions and concerns noted during the initial review," the Shelby education board said in a report.

It also added that the FETO linked applicant proposed a goal that 10% of its students would have disabilities. That goal was another reason for denial because in their current school, they have only enrolled 1% of students with disabilities which is significantly less than charter school and regional averages.

Residing in Pennsylvania since 1999, FETO's ringleader, Fetullah Gulen, is known as the man who controls these schools and the $500 million annual income from the schools he receives from the U.S. government, according to some U.S. media reports.

While the administrators of FETO schools denounce that they are connected to FETO's leader Gulen, the financial relationships between the schools and other FETO institutions confirm the relationship.

FETO's schools nationwide are part of the largest charter schools network in the U.S. Some of the schools are currently under FBI investigation for irregularities, unlawful profits, corruption, fraud and forgery.

Turkey has accused the FETO and the U.S.-based Gulen of being the masterminds of the defeated July 15, 2016 coup, which martyred 249 people and left some 2,200 injured. They are also accused of infiltrating educational and other institutions both in Turkey and worldwide for nefarious means, including subverting the state.