Special to WorldTribune.com

ANKARA — Turkey has targeted an Al Qaida-linked charity supported by
the ruling Justice and Development Party.

On Jan. 14, Turkish security forces raided offices and homes aligned to
the Humanitarian Relief Foundation, the largest non-governmental
organization in the country.

The raid, which netted 23 suspects, was depicted as an unauthorized operation, which targeted the organization responsible for the pro-Hamas flotilla to the Gaza Strip in 2010.

“This is an operation to change perceptions and stop aid being delivered inside Syria,” the group, known as IHH, said.

IHH was said to have been a leading supporter of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas and Al Qaida. Officials said IHH was suspected of helping recruit and finance Islamists to fight the regime of President Bashar Assad in neighboring Syria.

The crackdown on IHH was launched amid pressure by NATO to stop the flow
of Islamist fighters — many of whom recruited in Europe — to Syria. Organization leaders said prosecutors close to dissident Sunni preacher Fethullah Gulen ordered the raid as part of his feud with Prime Minister Recep Erdogan. Over the last few years, Erdogan has expressed support for IHH.

Turkish media reports said the detainees included Ibrahim Sen,
identified as the Al Qaida’s deputy operations chief for the Middle East.
Another detainee was Halis Bayancuk, said to head Al Qaida operations in
Turkey.

Security forces used U.S. military helicopters to raid IHH and suspected
Islamic insurgency strongholds in six provinces, including Adana, Istanbul
and Van. There were no reports of clashes.

Hours after the raid, the Erdogan government disassociated itself from
the arrests. Officials said two police commanders who planned the operation
were dismissed.

  Fethullah Gulen, Halis Bayancuk, Humanitarian Relief Foundation, Justice and Development Party, Muslim Brotherhood, Turkish security forces raid Erdogan-backed charity linked to Al Qaida