Belgium ‘proud’ to be host as ‘Colors of the World’ rocks European capital

Hundreds of children from a variety of countries across the world performed a spectacular show in Brussels on Saturday night. (Photo: Today's Zaman)
Hundreds of children from a variety of countries across the world performed a spectacular show in Brussels on Saturday night. (Photo: Today's Zaman)


Date posted: June 8, 2015

Children from around the world who participated in the 13th International Festival of Language and Culture (IFLC) put on a spectacular show in Brussels on Saturday night, drawing a large number of guests.

Featuring 350 children from a variety of countries, the IFLC’s “Colors of the World” show in Brussels was broadcast live by Belgium’s state station RTBF and La Trois TV station on Saturday, along with Samanyolu TV, Irmak TV, Mehtap TV and Europe MC. To support the show, #ColorsoftheWorld and #IFLCBrussels hashtags were created on Twitter during the live broadcast.

The children, who were welcomed in Brussels and performed a special show at the European Parliament at the behest of the body’s president, Martin Schulz, on Wednesday, sang songs in various languages, including Kurdish and Turkish.

Earlier in the day, Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel posted a series of tweets in which he expressed his country’s pride at hosting the event. “Belgium is proud to host the Festival of Language and Culture,” Michel said in one of his tweets.

He also thanked all those who took part in the organization of the event on behalf of the Belgian government.

Many of the attendees shared their reactions to the grand international production. “This is an unbelievable project. To offer students from different countries from around the world this opportunity is very admirable,” stated Belgian Socialist Party President Fouad Ahidar.

Mayor of the city of Kasterlee, Ward Kennes, was also present and said: “For students to come from different countries throughout the world to the capital of Europe, to the diverse city of Brussels is wonderful. I am very happy to witness this.”

“This production is wild; to be able to bring so much talent from so many different countries and have them [the students] come together like this is unbelievable. I could put them all in films!” said Belgian director and attendee Adil El Arbi.

The IFLC — a new name for what used to be known as the International Turkish Language Olympiads — has already been held in capital cities around the world for two years since the-then prime minister and current Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan banned the festival in Turkey after a corruption investigation implicating members of the government and businessmen close to it went public on Dec. 17, 2013.

Erdoğan, without presenting any concrete evidence, accuses sympathizers of the faith-based Gülen movement — popularly known as the Hizmet movement — especially those in the police forces and the judiciary, of being behind the graft probe, in what he calls an attempt to overthrow the government. The accusations are strongly rejected by the movement.

Since then, instead of helping the police and judiciary continue the case, Erdoğan has chosen to target anyone associated with the movement, including Turkish schools based abroad, which are the main contributors to the IFLC.

Source: Today's Zaman , June 06, 2015


Related News

I came to Nigeria with just a piece of luggage –Turkish International Colleges foundation coordinator

When Behlul Basaran arrived Nigeria in 2000 from Turkey, he was armed with a single piece of luggage, an enthusiastic spirit and hope. Inside his luggage was his letter of scholarship for a university education from the Hizmet Movement, which had started building a relationship and foundation for quality education with Nigeria.

Decision to build road on school grounds nonsensical, say parents

Following the İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality and Güngören Municipality’s decision to build a road within the courtyard of a private school affiliated with the Hizmet movement this week, the school management made a statement on Friday, saying that the parents of students at the school find the decision nonsensical.

Turkish Olympiad students visit Parliament Speaker Cemil Çiçek

İPEK ÜZÜM, İSTANBUL Students coming from all round the world to participate in the 11th International Turkish Olympiad, a festival that celebrates the Turkish language and which this year brought together 2,000 students from 140 countries around the world, visited Parliament Speaker Cemil Çiçek and organizations in Ankara on Monday. A group of students went […]

Panicky parents calmed over Feza Schools closure reports

The director assured the public that claims linking the institution to an alleged terror network were grossly untrue and a fabrication made with the intention of spoiling its image. “Our schools have no link with any terror group, we are a local registered charity organisation where every single sent obtained from schools fee is used for the redevelopment of the schools,” he added.

Auditors raid Gülen-inspired private school in Adana with police

In yet another government-backed operation targeting the Gülen movement, tax inspectors from the Finance Ministry on Saturday carried out a raid with police at a private school opened by volunteers of the movement in southern province of Adana.

Kalashnikov-carrying police raid Gülen-inspired private and prep schools based on ‘reasonable suspicion’

Police carrying Kalashnikov rifles and inspectors from a number of government bodies raided 14 private and prep schools in Mardin province on Tuesday based on “reasonable suspicion” that the schools are involved in tax fraud, a move that comes as part of the government-orchestrated operation targeting the faith-based Gülen movement, popularly known as the Hizmet movement.

Latest News

Fethullah Gülen’s Condolence Message for South African Human Rights Defender Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Hizmet Movement Declares Core Values with Unified Voice

Ankara systematically tortures supporters of Gülen movement, Kurds, Turkey Tribunal rapporteurs say

Erdogan possessed by Pharaoh, Herod, Hitler spirits?

Devious Use of International Organizations to Persecute Dissidents Abroad: The Erdogan Case

A “Controlled Coup”: Erdogan’s Contribution to the Autocrats’ Playbook

Why is Turkey’s Erdogan persecuting the Gulen movement?

Purge-victim man sent back to prison over Gulen links despite stage 4 cancer diagnosis

University refuses admission to woman jailed over Gülen links

In Case You Missed It

Observers: Charging Zaman’s editor-in-chief based on 2 columns, 1 report is ‘unlawful nonsense’

Turkish purges leave armed forces weak, dismissed officer warns

Fethullah Gulen Condemns Brussels Terrorist Attacks

Indian scholar: Fethullah Gülen a great blessing for Turkey, World

Internship opportunities at Rumi Forum

Afghan minister says proud his children studied at Turkish schools

The tragic story of a Turkish family fleeing to Greece from persecution

Copyright 2024 Hizmet News