Exhibit 18 The Washington Post:

Islamic cleric linked to U.S. charter schools involved in Turkeys political drama 12/26/2013 Pages 1 3

Answer Sheet

Islamic cleric linked to U.S. charter schools involved in Turkeys political dramaBy By Valerie StraussValerie Strauss December 26, 2013December 26, 2013

A Muslim cleric who lives in seclusion in Pennsylvania and has been linked to a network of more than 135 public charter A Muslim cleric who lives in seclusion in Pennsylvania and has been linked to a network of more than 135 public charter

schools in the United States is believed to be deeply involved in the political drama that is unfolding in his home country schools in the United States is believed to be deeply involved in the political drama that is unfolding in his home country

of Turkey.of Turkey.

The reclusive cleric is Fethullah Gulen, who has been linked to charter schools in some 25 states and to other schools in The reclusive cleric is Fethullah Gulen, who has been linked to charter schools in some 25 states and to other schools in

dozens of countries around the world. Gulen, who has denounced terrorism and is said to believe in a moderate form of dozens of countries around the world. Gulen, who has denounced terrorism and is said to believe in a moderate form of

Islam, has lived in Pennsylvania for years. Gulen was until recently a close ally of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Islam, has lived in Pennsylvania for years. Gulen was until recently a close ally of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip

Erdogan, whose government has been deeply shaken by a corruption investigation. The prime ministerErdogan, whose government has been deeply shaken by a corruption investigation. The prime minister just replaced just replaced

threethree of his key ministers after they were forced to resign in the scandal.of his key ministers after they were forced to resign in the scandal.

According to the Associated Press:According to the Associated Press:

The corruption probe is one of the biggest political challenges Erdogan has faced since his Islamic-The corruption probe is one of the biggest political challenges Erdogan has faced since his Islamic-

based party narrowly escaped being disbanded in 2008 for allegedly undermining Turkeys secular based party narrowly escaped being disbanded in 2008 for allegedly undermining Turkeys secular

Constitution. Erdogan has denounced the investigation as a plot by foreign and domestic forces to Constitution. Erdogan has denounced the investigation as a plot by foreign and domestic forces to

thwart his countrys prosperity and discredit his government ahead of local elections in March. His thwart his countrys prosperity and discredit his government ahead of local elections in March. His

government has won three elections since 2002 on the strength of the economy and a promise to fight government has won three elections since 2002 on the strength of the economy and a promise to fight

corruption.corruption.

Turkish commentators believe the probe is fallout from an increasingly public feud and power struggle Turkish commentators believe the probe is fallout from an increasingly public feud and power struggle

between Erdogans government and an influential U.S.-based Muslim cleric, Fethullah Gulen, whose between Erdogans government and an influential U.S.-based Muslim cleric, Fethullah Gulen, whose

followers are believed to have a strong foothold within Turkeys police and judiciary. The two men, followers are believed to have a strong foothold within Turkeys police and judiciary. The two men,

without naming each other, have been engaged in a war of words since the corruption probe was without naming each other, have been engaged in a war of words since the corruption probe was

launched on Dec. 17.launched on Dec. 17.

The The New York Times reported in this storyNew York Times reported in this story that the corruption and bribery probe is widely believed to be under the that the corruption and bribery probe is widely believed to be under the

control of Gulen followers, and it described the powerful Muslim preacher as being in command of a network of control of Gulen followers, and it described the powerful Muslim preacher as being in command of a network of

businessmen, media outlets and schools as well as officials within Turkeys police and judiciary. Gulen has denied businessmen, media outlets and schools as well as officials within Turkeys police and judiciary. Gulen has denied

involvement in the probe in Turkey, in which 24 have been formally charged, including the sons of two ministers in involvement in the probe in Turkey, in which 24 have been formally charged, including the sons of two ministers in

Erdogans government as well as the manager of the state-owned Halkbank.Erdogans government as well as the manager of the state-owned Halkbank.

Page 1 of 3Islamic cleric linked to U.S. charter schools involved in Turkeys political drama - The Washington Post

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Exhibit 18, Page 1 of 3

Gulen has lived in the United States for many years. According Gulen has lived in the United States for many years. According to this Philadelphia Inquirer storyto this Philadelphia Inquirer story, Gulen filed a lawsuit , Gulen filed a lawsuit

in 2007 in U.S. District Court seeking permission to live in the country legally after being denied a special visa by U.S. in 2007 in U.S. District Court seeking permission to live in the country legally after being denied a special visa by U.S.

officials. In the suit his lawyers identified him as head of the Gulen Movement and an important education leader who officials. In the suit his lawyers identified him as head of the Gulen Movement and an important education leader who

had overseen the creation of a network of schools in the United States and around the world. He got a green card in had overseen the creation of a network of schools in the United States and around the world. He got a green card in

2008 and lives on a secluded compound called the Golden Generation Worship and Retreat Center in rural Pennsylvania.2008 and lives on a secluded compound called the Golden Generation Worship and Retreat Center in rural Pennsylvania.

The public charter schools in what is unofficially known as the Gulen network are believed to be operated by people The public charter schools in what is unofficially known as the Gulen network are believed to be operated by people

usually Turks in or associated with the Gulen movement. The schools, many of them with strong academic records, usually Turks in or associated with the Gulen movement. The schools, many of them with strong academic records,

have different names and many of them are geared toward science, math and technology education. In Texas, for have different names and many of them are geared toward science, math and technology education. In Texas, for

example, Harmony charter schools are believed to be linked to the network.example, Harmony charter schools are believed to be linked to the network.

Some of the problems commonly cited with Gulen-inspired schools have affected the Chesapeake Science Point Public Some of the problems commonly cited with Gulen-inspired schools have affected the Chesapeake Science Point Public

Charter School in Anne Arundel County, which is has a strong academic record but Charter School in Anne Arundel County, which is has a strong academic record but has run into troubles has run into troubles cited last year cited last year

by then district superintendent Kevin Maxwell. Though Maxwell supported a continuance of the schools charter, he said by then district superintendent Kevin Maxwell. Though Maxwell supported a continuance of the schools charter, he said

in June 2012 that the school had to hire qualified and fully certified teachers, reform the board of directors to reflect the in June 2012 that the school had to hire qualified and fully certified teachers, reform the board of directors to reflect the

community it serves, use appropriate procurement and bidding processes for outside contracts, follow board policy for community it serves, use appropriate procurement and bidding processes for outside contracts, follow board policy for

the hiring of foreign nationals, and agree not to allow any of its contractors or subcontractors to knowingly employ the hiring of foreign nationals, and agree not to allow any of its contractors or subcontractors to knowingly employ

anybody who has been investigated for criminal activity.anybody who has been investigated for criminal activity.

The operators of schools believed to be in the Gulen network always deny being connected to the preachers movement The operators of schools believed to be in the Gulen network always deny being connected to the preachers movement

but state and federal officials have conducted various investigations over the years into such links.but state and federal officials have conducted various investigations over the years into such links.

A Harmony charter school was just given approval by the D.C. Public Charter School Board to open in Washington D.C. A Harmony charter school was just given approval by the D.C. Public Charter School Board to open in Washington D.C.

Theola Labb-DeBose, a spokeswoman for the charter school board, said in an e-mail that there was very little Theola Labb-DeBose, a spokeswoman for the charter school board, said in an e-mail that there was very little

discussion about any possible connections to Gulen during the board meeting when the schools application was discussion about any possible connections to Gulen during the board meeting when the schools application was

approved.approved.

Early this year, the Loudoun County School Board denied an application by a group of Turkish men seeking to open a Early this year, the Loudoun County School Board denied an application by a group of Turkish men seeking to open a

charter school there because of charter school there because of questions questions involving curriculum and other operational issues. The applicants said they involving curriculum and other operational issues. The applicants said they

were using the Anne Arundel school as a model but had trouble answering basic questions to the board members were using the Anne Arundel school as a model but had trouble answering basic questions to the board members

satisfaction. The school would have been the first charter school in Northern Virginia if it had been approved.satisfaction. The school would have been the first charter school in Northern Virginia if it had been approved.

During the application process, the board held hearings at which one speaker, Mary Addi, testified that that she and her During the application process, the board held hearings at which one speaker, Mary Addi, testified that that she and her

husband, Mustafa Emanet, had worked at a Gulen charter school in Ohio, which was opened in Dayton with the help of husband, Mustafa Emanet, had worked at a Gulen charter school in Ohio, which was opened in Dayton with the help of

one of the Loudoun charter applicants, Fatih Kandil. She said her husband, a Turk, had been been involved in the Gulen one of the Loudoun charter applicants, Fatih Kandil. She said her husband, a Turk, had been been involved in the Gulen

movement and that Turkish teachers at the Ohio school had to turn over 40 percent of their salaries to a secret fund used movement and that Turkish teachers at the Ohio school had to turn over 40 percent of their salaries to a secret fund used

by the movement. Last January, during the hearings, I asked Sinan Yildirim, listed as one of the members of the by the movement. Last January, during the hearings, I asked Sinan Yildirim, listed as one of the members of the

proposed schools initial governing board, whether he and his fellow applicants are connected to Gulen and he answered: proposed schools initial governing board, whether he and his fellow applicants are connected to Gulen and he answered:

We said no. They said yes. If they claim something they have to prove. And they cant prove it.We said no. They said yes. If they claim something they have to prove. And they cant prove it.

Page 2 of 3Islamic cleric linked to U.S. charter schools involved in Turkeys political drama - The Washington Post

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The FBI and the Departments of Labor and Education have investigated whether some employees at some of these The FBI and the Departments of Labor and Education have investigated whether some employees at some of these

schools are kicking back part of their salaries to the Gulen Movement, schools are kicking back part of their salaries to the Gulen Movement, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported in this storythe Philadelphia Inquirer reported in this story. .

The New York TimesThe New York Times and and CBS News CBS News as well as as well as PBSPBS have reported on the Gulen charter network, citing problems such as have reported on the Gulen charter network, citing problems such as

whether these schools give special preference to Turkish companies when handing out contracts.whether these schools give special preference to Turkish companies when handing out contracts.

Earlier this month, the FBI sent agents into the Kenilworth Science and Technology Charter School in Baton Rouge, Earlier this month, the FBI sent agents into the Kenilworth Science and Technology Charter School in Baton Rouge,

which is believed to have Gulen ties, according to which is believed to have Gulen ties, according to this story on Nola.comthis story on Nola.com, which reported that the agents left with boxes , which reported that the agents left with boxes

of unidentified material. According to the Web site, the schools officials have denied any Gulen connection, but it said of unidentified material. According to the Web site, the schools officials have denied any Gulen connection, but it said

that in 2011, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune reported that Pelican Educational Foundation, the nonprofit group that that in 2011, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune reported that Pelican Educational Foundation, the nonprofit group that

runs Kenilworth, does have various connections to the movement.runs Kenilworth, does have various connections to the movement.

Valerie Strauss covers education and runs The Answer Sheet blog.Valerie Strauss covers education and runs The Answer Sheet blog.

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