The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has issued a strong statement condemning what it describes as continued interference by the Turkish government in the activities of Turkish-owned organisations operating within Nigeria.
In a press release on Monday, MURIC called on President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to “respect Nigeria’s sovereignty” and to desist from making “unfounded accusations” against Turkish institutions, particularly those involved in education and humanitarian work.
According to the group, Erdogan’s administration has repeatedly pressured the Nigerian government to shut down Turkish-linked schools and businesses allegedly associated with the Hizmet movement — a civil society group Ankara considers a terrorist organization.
> “President Erdogan should stop interfering in the internal affairs of Nigeria under the guise of fighting terrorism,” said Professor Ishaq Akintola, Executive Director of MURIC. “The schools and other institutions he seeks to destroy have contributed immensely to education and development in Nigeria.”
MURIC emphasized that no Turkish organization operating in Nigeria has been found guilty of terrorism or subversive activities by Nigerian security agencies. It urged the Nigerian government to remain firm in its independence and not succumb to foreign diplomatic pressure that could disrupt legitimate operations within its borders.
The group also advised Erdogan to channel his energy into resolving internal issues within Turkey and allow Nigerian institutions and authorities to function without external interference.
The Turkish government has yet to respond to MURIC’s remarks at the time of filing this report.
