Turkey puts Hyderabad's Iqbalia International School in a spot
Turkey said FETO had opened schools in India and was trying to infiltrate strategic institutions in the country.
New Delhi/Hyderabad: The Iqbalia International School in the city has come under the spotlight after it was mentioned by the Turkish government on Friday, while urging India to crack down on Fethullah Gulen (FETO), which it says is a terrorist organisation. Turkey said FETO had opened schools in India and was trying to infiltrate strategic institutions in the country.
Turkey’s minister Lutfi Elvan, after meeting Union minister Rajnath Singh, said. “Unfortunately, in India too this terrorist organisation has organised itself. They have got four schools here, one international school and a college and they are organised in Delhi, Hyderabad and Kolkata.”
School not under lens: Cops
The FETO was blamed for a failed coup in July to topple President Tayyip Erdogan. The Iqbalia International School in the city mentions several names as part of the school management committee. Mr Osman Koyoalu, who was named on the website, heads the Banjara Hills-based Indialogue Foundation Hyderabad.
Asked about his association with the school, Mr Koyoalu said, “Our foundation has nothing to do with Iqbalia International School. My child is studying in the school and I am a businessman and I also run a Turkish cuisine outlet in Hyderabad. I have nothing to do with the school management. It is run by a Delhi-based trust,”
The school on its website says it is run by the Delhi-based Education Endowments Trust. He said his foundation was inspired by peacemakers like Mahatma Gandhi. Fetullah Gulen is one such peacemaker. Our foundation is into socio-cultural activities and we conduct the Indo-Turkish festival and dialogue for peace.
A city-based environmentalist, who was also named by the school website, said he was not part of it now. “I was invited for a few functions. Mr Koyoalu introduced me to the school,” The principal was not available for comment.
Hyderabad police and the education department said they had no information on any suspicious activities at the school in Jubilee Hills.
Hyderabad DEO M. Ramesh said the department had not received any queries from the police on the school. West Zone DCP A. Venkateswara Rao said, “It is not under our scanner so far.”