Dr. Soltes: Hizmet cares for Turkey and humanity


Date posted: January 30, 2014

 

 

ANTALYA

Antalya Intercultural Dialog Center (AKDIM) hosted a conference entitled “Implications of Global Rise of Democracy for Today from a Rumi Perspective” at Ramada Plaza Hotel, Antalya, Turkey. The keynote speakers were the US academic Dr. Ori Soltes and journalist-author Erkan Tufan Aytav.

In his presentation, Dr. Soltes underscored Hizmet Movement homes in on selfless action with no expectation in return. “This is what I have seen in every Hizmet person I met. I see the attribute of selflessness in every Gulen-inspired person,” Soltes noted.

“No solid evidence exists”

Speaking of “parallel state” allegations voiced against Fethullah Gulen and the movement, which, he argues, are based on no solid evidence, “They care for this country and humanity, not their own egos,” Dr. Soltes said. He went on to say, “Gulen is living in Pennsylvania in the first place. And I haven’t seen any sound document or proof regarding the alleged parallel state. Third, this whole thing doesn’t fit together with what I read in Gulen’s books. I can tell the same by looking at the people I met in years. I don’t’ think they have anything to do with parallel state. I don’t even think such a thing exists in Turkey anyway.”

“Regrettable moves”

Referring to what’s happening in Turkey’s police department and judiciary as weird, “Similar incidents can take place in many countries having issues with themselves. It’s regrettable.”

“What’s going on in Turkey right now is, in fact, a test for democracy. Whether it’s going to survive or not is being tested, I believe,” Soltes said. Regarding the transition of countries to true democracy, Soltes argued even the US has been trying for 75 years to comply with principles of democracy. “Turkey is on the verge of a critical turning point. Will its democracy be able to get through crisis times? This is what we’re going to see. Yet, we need admit by looking at the past that it’s not so easy to achieve. It’s going to be much easier so long as we recognize how hard it is,” Soltes added.

“Rumi was accused of being a traitor for Mongolia”

The journalist-author Aytav noted that there are parallels between what Gulen –who, he believes, fulfills a critical mission- has been going through and what Rumi did. “Rumi was accused of being a traitor for Mongolia by the people of his time. Gulen shares the same fate. It’s never changed. There are many parallels between Gulen and Rumi, in this regard,” Aytav said.

Published [in Turkish] on Cihan, 10 January 2014, Friday

Source: Hizmetmovement Blogspot , January 30, 2014


Related News

Lawyer: Gülen will appeal court decision to cancel his green passport

Nurullah Albayrak, lawyer for Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, said his client will appeal a Council of State ruling that Gülen’s green passport was obtained illegally.

Erdoğan prepares for a bloodbath

Erdoğan’s ruling party has also begun issuing weapons permits to loyalists, especially through the Ottoman Youth Authority (Osmanli Ocaklari). I have previously reported Erdoğan’s appointment of former general Adnan Tanriverdi, the head of SADAT, to be his military counsel. Tanriverdi had been dismissed by the Turkish General Staff during the 1997 soft coup and appears bent on revenge against the secular order.

Gülen, a man of peace, not behind attempted coup in Turkey

Despite Gülen’s repeated denials of any involvement and his open call for an investigation by an international commission, no concrete effort has been made to find out the true perpetrators of the heinous attempt. Instead, a state of emergency, which still continues today, was declared and is used to silence the opposition and all other critical voices.

Had the Kurds believed in Said-i Kurdi, their children wouldn’t have died

Naim from Diyarbakir sent me a message. He says: “The Kurds would listen to you if you said something to them, because you’re coming from a leftist tradition. Evil powers like PKK and KCK can’t stand the approval for Gulen Movement’s service for Kurds.”

Two Turkish TV producers detained as operation against media starts

Turkish police have reportedly detained two producers from Samanyolu TV in the first wave of what was said to be a large-scale operation against the media across Turkey.

Six heads of organized crime unit dismissed as hundreds relocated in new police purges [just after an operation against al-Qaeda]

The new relocations come as two heads of anti-terror units who conducted an operation against al-Qaeda and raids against a local branch of the Humanitarian Relief Foundation (İHH) charity were dismissed on Jan. 14.

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

Real democrats cannot politicize Islam

Kimse Yok Mu extends helping hand to orphans in eastern Turkey

PKK’s venomous mouthpiece targets US, Gülen

Fatih University graduates receive Feb. 28-like treatment at İstanbul University

Erdogan advisor likens Turkey purge to Aborigine, Native American, Armenian cases

JWF strongly condemns this terrorist attack on the Charlie Hebdo

AK Party gov’t spokesman confirms National Intelligence Organization profiling of faith-based movements

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News