PodcastHigh-level bureaucrat known for praising Gülen appointed as governor in Diyarbakır
Münir Karaloğlu, a politician known for his praises for the U.S.-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gülen, was appointed as the governor of the southeastern province of Diyarbakır. This is not the first time that a governor with known Gülen links was appointed to the province. Hüseyin Avni Mutlu, who was later convicted of Gülen movement membership, was another one.
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Former army chief Başbuğ summoned to testify over Gülen's political leg remarksA bureaucrat known for his praises for the U.S.-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gülen was appointed as the governor of the southeastern province of Diyarbakır.
Münir Karaloğlu, who previously served as the governor of the southeastern province of Van and the southern province of Antalya, was known with facilitating businesses of the people close to the Gülen movement, whose official name is the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ).
He is also known for a speech praising Gülen, calling him a "hero."
This is not the first time that a governor with known Gülen links was appointed to the province. Hüseyin Avni Mutlu, who was later convicted of Gülen movement membership, was another one.
The Gülen movement was a close ally of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). Relations soured between them during the Dec. 17-25, 2013 corruption investigations that targeted figures close to the AKP and then-Prime Minister Erdoğan, as prosecutors purportedly close to the movement launched the wide-ranging probes.
Rear admiral who resigned after Erdoğan's demotion says he was set up in 'Gülen-like plot'The movement is also the believed mastermind of the July 15, 2016 failed coup attempt that resulted in the deaths of over 250 people.
Karaloğlu was at the center of criticisms in the aftermath of the deadly Van earthquake in 2011. He ordered police to disperse people distributing aid to those in need.
He also called on the earthquake survivors to "go inside their homes," which resulted in the deaths of 42 others when a second earthquake took place.
His appointment was made as part of a recent reshuffle, which saw 17 governors removed from their active duties and governors of 41 provinces change.
Turkey orders detention of more than 400 people with alleged Gülen linksThose who were removed are governors of Adıyaman, Aksaray, Çankırı, Denizli, Diyarbakır, Eskişehir, Giresun, Karaman, Konya, Kütahya, Manisa, Mardin, Sakarya, Samsun, Sinop, Yozgat and Zonguldak.
A number of high-level bureaucrats and district governors were also appointed as governors.
The governors of 23 provinces were changed and 18 new governor appointments were made.
Muğla Governor Esengül Civelek was appointed Presidential Advisor.