Interview with Rt Hon Hazel Blears MP, at London Premiere of Love is a Verb


Date posted: January 15, 2015

Love is a Verb is a documentary by Terry Spencer Hesser exploring the ordinary lives and stories of people in Hizmet, a social movement inspired by the Islamic scholar and teacher, Fethullah Gülen, and geared towards serving all people regardless of their faith and religion through dialogue, education and relief work. The documentary was narrated by Hollywood actress Ashley Judd and produced by Global Vision Productions.

At a time when terrorist groups command world attention through their brutal acts that they claim to be committing in the name of Islam, we believe it is most timely to explore the works and activities of ordinary people in Hizmet (literally meaning ‘service’) whose source of inspiration is Islam yet whose aims, values, practices and activities are not just entirely different but diametrically opposed to those of the murderous terrorists mentioned above. As Hizmet grows in over 160 countries through dialogue, education and relief work, seeing the movement through the lens of Terry Spencer is an opportunity for anyone interested in exploring the human-stories around a faith-inspired (in motivation) yet faith-neutral (in activities and inclusiveness) movement growing worldwide.

The London premiere of Love is a Verb was organised by the Centre for Hizmet Studies and Dialogue Society. It took place at the Leicester Square Empire Cinema on 4th November 2014. New interviews with members of the audience will be released in the coming days and weeks.

Source: Hizmet Studies


Related News

An AKP-neo-nationalist axis?

Emre Uslu, 14 March 2012 Turkey’s foremost thinker, Etyen Mahçupyan, in the Zaman daily, underlined an interesting rapprochement between the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government and the neo-nationalist (Ulusalcı) camp in Turkey. Mahçupyan listed a number of indicators to provide evidence for his argument. Indeed, the indicators he gives are worrisome and show possible […]

Who was behind the Turkish Coup: Sufi Islamic Scholar Fathullah Gülen or the Regime itself?

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has bluntly blamed it on the Hizmet movement, Gülen’s initiative for intercultural and interfaith dialogue and education in the country expanding across the world today. But for many immensely impressed by Gülen’s global humanitarian, social and Islam-based peace activism, it remains an obscure question as to how the former ally of his country is now blamed for the coup.

Torture appeared widespread after Turkey coup: UN expert

Measures taken in Turkey after the July 15 coup attempt created an “environment conducive to torture”, and ill treatment appears to have been widespread immediately after the failed putsch, UN special rapporteur on torture Nils Melzer said told reporters in Ankara. “Some recently passed legislation and statutory decrees created an environment conducive to torture,” he said.

Keep Incirlik, Extradite Gülen?

A true ally would not try to obstruct the international campaign against the Islamic State for the sake of a leader’s personal vendetta. To acquiesce to the extradition [of Fethullah Gulen] would be to signal that it’s open season to blackmail the United States.

Prep school transformation plan violates Constitution, experts say

DERVİŞ GENÇ, İSTANBUL A government plan to shut down Turkey’s prep schools — or “transform” them, as the government argues — violates the Turkish Constitution and the case law of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), according to experts. “Parliament can neither close the prep schools with a law nor force them to transform. […]

Gandhi’s granddaughter: Hizmet movement realized all we dreamed of

Peace activist and iconic leader Mahatma Gandhi’s granddaughter, Ela Gandhi, has said that the Hizmet movement realized all they had dreamed of, in reference to the activities of the South Africa-based Turquoise Harmony Institute.

Latest News

Turkish inmate jailed over alleged Gülen links dies of heart attack in prison

Message of Condemnation and Condolences for Mass Shooting at Bondi Beach, Sydney

Media executive Hidayet Karaca marks 11th year in prison over alleged links to Gülen movement

ECtHR faults Turkey for convictions of 2,420 applicants over Gülen links in follow-up to 2023 judgment

New Book Exposes Erdoğan’s “Civil Death Project” Targeting the Hizmet Movement

European Human Rights Treaty Faces Legal And Political Tests

ECtHR rejects Turkey’s appeal, clearing path for retrials in Gülen-linked cases

Erdoğan’s Civil Death Project’ : The ‘politicide’ spanning more than a decade

Fethullah Gülen’s Vision and the Purpose of Hizmet

In Case You Missed It

Pak-Turk schools hold graduates moot

Kimse Yok Mu opens school for Syrian children

Relatives Fear Turkish Govt May Kill Prisoners Through Staged Riot

The Encyclopedia of Islam and hate speech

Gülen says prefers staying longer in US to avoid ‘harming positive things’

The Istanbul Cultural Center hopes to build bridges though food

Turkey shies away from legal measures to provide equal opportunity in education

Copyright 2026 Hizmet News