Turkish Cultural Center Vermont opened it doors at a ceremony held in Burlington
Date posted: May 26, 2014
VERMONT
Turkish Cultural Center Vermont opened it doors at a ceremony held in Burlington on Wednesday with the participation of Governor Peter Shumlin, many state politicians, community members, and businessmen.
On Wednesday, Governor Peter Shumlin joined Council of Turkic American Associations (CTAA) and Turkish Cultural Center Vermont (TCCVT) as well as a host of other local officials for the ribbon cutting of new Turkish Cultural Center on the fifth floor of 125 College St. in Burlington.
Gov. Peter Shumlin said he hoped the center would establish friendships, promote better understanding of different cultures and help with Vermont’s job growth and exports.
“I know that it will serve us well in the future,” Gov. Shumlin said of the center.
Among the participants of the ceremony included Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger, Attorney General William Sorrell, state legislators and representatives for Sen. Patrick Leahy and Sen. Bernie Sanders, in addition to Turkish Cultural Center officials and members.
In other words, this is not a power struggle but a one-sided attack by an increasingly authoritarian leader on a civil society movement critical of the way government rules the nation.
In this asymmetrical fight, the Hizmet movement has nothing to lose. It is composed of individuals who are dedicated to doing something that they believe is for the good of humanity.
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Most (university) preparatory courses (in Turkey) are run by the Hizmet movement, and it is very clear that the government’s steps to close down such courses, an action against the movement, will negatively affect a great number of people. Many analysts said it is impossible for the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), which does not have a good relationship with the Hizmet movement, to close down preparatory courses in the run-up to the pre-election period.
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Schaake stated: “The separation of powers is under immense pressure in Turkey and the rule of law is not upheld. This crisis also impacts the relations between the European Union and Turkey, because measures taken, such as political intervention with the judicial branch, are not in line with European rules. The independence of the judiciary has been a concern for Europe for much longer.
Crackdown in Turkey felt in Capital Region
Volunteers at the Turkish Cultural Center of Albany offered Turkish language and cooking classes, invited the public to Ramadan friendship dinners and sought to build a bridge between East and West by leading a dialogue between Muslims and non-Muslims. They were research scientists, professors, graduate students, state employees and restaurant owners.
Erdoğan’s former speechwriter: Call for Gülen’s return was tactical move
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s former speechwriter and current Justice and Development Party (AK Party) deputy Aydın Ünal wrote on Thursday that Erdoğan has never liked Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen and that his call for Gülen to return to Turkey in 2012 was a political maneuver.
Watson points to new authoritarianism in Turkish gov’t’s relations
“A new authoritarianism can be seen in the government’s relations with business and the media, and towards protests,” the British member of the European Parliament (MEP) and leader of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe party said in his letter.
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