Minister Yildirim’s high praise for Fethullah Gulen


Date posted: May 28, 2013

Minister of Transportation, Maritime and Communication, Binali Yildirim, spoke at the Turkish Language Olympiads Cultural Festival participated by two thousand students from 140 countries, at Kulturpark in Izmir. In his remarks, Yildirim said:

“Izmir is the city of tolerance, tourism and maritime, compared to a queen in Victor Hugo’s diaries. You’ve added to its beauty. I would like to thank the organizers for choosing Izmir to hold the cultural festival in the run-up to the Olympiads initially participated by 62 students from 17 countries and that evolved into a huge organization with the participation of two thousand students from 140 countries. These events are creating an atmosphere that encapsulates our souls, warms our hearts; reminding us of tolerance, brotherhood and bravery.”

“We’ve truly missed our children coming from different cultures to blow like breezes across our country, over the last year. Turkish is the language of love. It is language of Yunus Emre, who says “Come, let us be friends” or Rumi saying “Come, whoever you are.” It is a language that calls humanity for peace. It is the language of Fethullah Gulen who urges, “Be so tolerant that your bosom becomes wide like the ocean. Become inspired with faith and love of human beings. Let there be no troubled souls to whom you do not offer a hand and about whom you remain unconcerned.”

Yildirim went on to praise the Turkish schools inspired by Fethullah Gulen: “Turkish language builds invisible bridges between hearts. It sprung like a snowdrop at the heart of Asia, thousands years ago. Turkish will continue its existence as long as the world exists, just like it has done to date. To speak a country’s language is to become brothers with its people and culture, and to understand that country by communicating with it. Thanks to the Turkish schools worldwide, Turkey is growing in significance among the leader countries. It is now widely mentioned across the world. Behind this success are our Turkish teachers and volunteers of service, with their love for Turkish and native country deep inside their hearts, and serving in seven continents without expecting nothing in return.

I would like to send my greetings to those teachers. Like UN, we are addressing to 140 countries through the Olympiads. This is not possible to be accomplished in only a few days. It takes a lifetime for this idea to be embraced and spread. My greetings to those who devoted their life to this cause. And to the selfless, Anatolian parents and teachers who have raised these volunteer servants. May God be with you until we meet again at the spectacular show on June 9, in Izmir.

Source: [in Turkish] Bugun, 25 May 2013. English translation is retrieved from HizmetMovement.Com


Related News

The Gülen movement as the victim of an orchestrated smear campaign

When the Justice and Development Party (AKP) took office in 2002 under the leadership of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the party’s commitment to democratization was promising. As many political scientists agreed, the first years of AKP rule were a success story, and that was why, with its secular multi-party democracy and its Muslim character, Turkey had emerged as a role model for the Muslim world.

Hypocrisy in languages: criticizing Fethullah Gülen, English or Turkish?

Abdulhamid Türker* Fethullah Gülen has been the subject of several books and hundreds of articles, in many languages. Some of these books and articles are very critical of Gülen and the Gülen movement (also known as Hizmet movement). If someone wants to understand who Gülen is, the first thing this person would do is to […]

66,000 students relocated after Turkish government shut down 15 universities over coup charges

Turkish government has closed down 15 universities across the country over their alleged links to the Gulen movement since last summer, leading 66,000 students to look for somewhere else to continue their education.

AK Party deputy Hakan Şükür against closure of prep schools

Former national team captain and current Justice and Development Party (AK Party) İstanbul deputy Hakan Şükür, referring to the government’s plan to shut down prep schools, has said it was wrong to vote “yes” on their closure before a process is carried out which eliminates the need for the schools.

Self-criticism by the Hizmet movement

Hizmet is composed of volunteers who are heterogeneous in terms of religiosity, ideology, lifestyle, occupation, degree of involvement in Hizmet activities and so on. Since Hizmet is not a hierarchical organization, it does not have a headquarters. As a result, it is difficult to talk about Hizmet’s mistakes. One can talk about the mistakes of some Hizmet volunteers or institutions that are affiliated with Hizmet.

Hizmet Movement discussed at Mexico’s UNAM

A group of Turkish, American and Mexican academics came together at National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) to discuss the Hizmet Movement’s progression from past to present.

Latest News

Fethullah Gulen – man of education, peace and dialogue – passes away

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

In Case You Missed It

Gulen turns coup accusations on Erdogan

Time For Gulen Movement To Leave Turkey?

The dominant assessment in NATO: Turkey’s President Erdoğan staged the coup himself

Turkish Cleric, Accused in Coup Plot, Calls Crackdown ‘Dark Pages’ in History

Don’t be fooled by Hizmet conspiracy theories

Germany informs Gülen sympathizers about Turkish Intel surveillance

AST urges foreign governments to ensure safety for participants of Hizmet Movement

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News