Gülen: Alevi-Sunni brotherhood should not be marred by bridge controversy

Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen.
Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen.


Date posted: June 19, 2013

Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen has put emphasis on Alevi-Sunni brotherhood in comments on an ongoing controversy over the naming of a new bridge to be built over the Bosporus after an Ottoman Sultan who Alevis say is responsible for the killing of tens of thousands of Alevis in the early 16th century.

In a speech broadcast in herkul.org on Wednesday, Gülen shared his comments on the government’s decision to name the third bridge to be built over the Bosporus after Yavuz Sultan Selim and the ensuing criticisms from Turkey’s Alevi community as the Sultan is perceived by Alevis to be responsible for the killing of as many as 40,000 Alevis during a war with Iran’s Shah Ismail in 1511. He said he has deep respect for Yavuz Sultan Selim, adding that he has always questioned whether channels of diplomacy could have been tried instead of waging a war and “provoking anger” from Alevis. However, he underlined that evaluating past incidents from today’s perspective would be an error.

Stating that he does not think that those who took the decision had a “negative intention,” he said the issue should be regarded as a “detail” and should not overshadow “many other bridges between Sunnis and Alevis” of Turkey.

“There are many bridges between us [Alevis and Sunnis] in terms of our connection with God the Prophet and the Quran. There are also bridges that stem from our common values such as [Sufi thinkers] Ahmet Yesevi, Mevlana [Jalaladdin-i Rumi] and Yunus Emre. All these bridges may be ignored when a bridge to ensure passage from one side to the other side of İstanbul over the Bosporus is named as Yavuz Sultan Selim and when such a particular issue is regarded as the basis,” Gülen said.

Gülen stressed that there are also “bridges” currently being built between Alevis and Sunnis, referring to the recent efforts of the Gülen movement to boost Alevi-Sunni brotherhood. “The bridges that are being built with the idea that we should spend time together in the same parks built for mosques and cemevis [Alevi place of worship] and that we should not create new reasons for enmity by reviving past problems. We should not destroy these bridges, which can lead to cohesion, with a bridge’s name. Yes, we should not destroy several bridges with a single one. So, we should not sacrifice the essence to a detail, I mean a bridge, in an environment where we are coming together in Ramadan and Muharrem [sacred for Alevis], breaking fast, seeing sema [Sufi whirling ceremony] and semah [Alevi religious dance],” Gülen added.

He was referring to several events and fast-breaking dinners organized by Turkish President Abdullah Gül as well as the Journalists and Writers Foundation (GYV), whose honorary chairman is Gülen, during the Alevi holy month of Muharrem to highlight Alevi-Sunni brotherhood.

Noting that everyone should respect others’ sensitivities, Gülen said the best way to understand each other’s feelings is to come together and get to know one another better.

He also reiterated his proposal to build cemevis next to mosques to bring Alevis and Sunnis together.

Gülen has been voicing this idea for years. Gülen earlier said that cemevis should be built next to mosques and that failing to build cemevis for Alevis was unjust. The head of a leading Alevi foundation, the Cem Foundation, has recently said efforts are under way for a project to realize Gülen’s proposal.

Gülen is a Turkish Islamic scholar well known for his teachings that promote mutual understanding and tolerance between cultures. One of the world’s most influential Islamic scholars, Gülen came out at the top of the list of “The World’s Top 20 Public Intellectuals” by the magazines Foreign Policy and Prospect in 2008. Now residing in the US, Gülen has pioneered educational activities in a number of countries along with efforts to promote intercultural and interfaith activities around the world.

The Alevi community is thought to have between 6 and 12 million adherents in Turkey, which has a population of more than 70 million. Alevis demand that cemevis be officially recognized by the state.

SourceToday’s Zaman June 19, 2013


Related News

Businessmen, politicians, religious leaders come together at GYV iftar

26 July 2012 / TODAY’S ZAMAN, İSTANBUL Many distinguished figures, including Turkey’s spiritual leaders, politicians, artists, diplomats, businessmen and journalists came together at the same iftar (fast-breaking dinner) table in İstanbul’s Conrad Hotel on Wednesday night at an event held by the Journalists and Writers Foundation (GYV). GYV Honorary President Fethullah Gülen greeted the guests […]

Parallel vs. Persian structure within the Turkish state

Despite all these accusations, the Erdoğan government has not produced any evidence to substantiate his allegations of a parallel structure within the judiciary, police or any other state institution, nor of officials receiving orders from anywhere other than their own legal superiors, nor has he or his government brought any of these charges to court.

Lawyer put behind bars along with 3-month-old baby

An Istanbul lawyer, identified with her initials O.E.H., was put in pretrial detention along with her three-month-old baby as part of an investigation into the Gulen movement, media said.

Fethullah Gülen’s Lawyers: Gülen Movement Has No Link With Zarrab Case In US

The lawyers of US-based Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen said on Tuesday that the Gülen movement has no link to the case of Iranian-Turkish businessman Reza Zarrab in the US.

Deputy PM Bülent Arınç says row with Hizmet movement would do no good

Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç has commented for the first time on allegations that there are tensions between the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government and the Hizmet movement, saying, “We don’t need to get into a verbal row that might hurt relations between the government and the movement; we don’t need it, it would hurt us.” He also said Erdoğan holds Gülen in esteem.

Students from 70 countries share joy of graduating in İstanbul ceremony

Foreign students who have come to study in Turkey threw their caps into the air in celebration at a graduation ceremony held in Istanbul on Wednesday.

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

We’ll kiss the hands of those who tell us our shortcomings

Young Peacebuilders Honored

Retired on disability, former bomb disposal expert kept in jail for a month over Gülen links

Antioch came together over Iftar

The anomaly of war

Academics praise Gülen’s contribution to world peace at symposium in Washington D.C.

Turkish Government Imprisons One More Mother With Her Baby Over Links To Gülen Movement

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News