Islamic schools in southernmost Thailand under probe for alleged links with Turkish terrorist group

Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said on Friday that he has ordered authorities to investigate into allegations that four Islamic schools in the Deep South region of the country had been linked with a Turkish terrorist movement.

His comments followed news reports that the Turkish Embassy in Bangkok had announced on its website to not ratify any educational certificates from the four Islamic schools in Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala provinces for their alleged connections with Fethullah Gulen movement.

He said the authorities in charge of security affairs have been instructed to see whether the Islamic schools, namely Pan-Asia International School, Chindamanee School, Siriwat Wittaya School and Wichai Wittaya School, might possibly have been connected with Fethullah Gulen group.

He declined to comment whether or not the Turkish terrorist group might possibly have been involved in a series of last month's bombings in several southern Thai provinces, which claimed several deaths and injuries.

Those blasted spots included famous seaside resorts such as Phuket and Hua Hin which geographically lie a long way north of the turbulent Deep South region. Enditem