Turkic American Alliance hosts iftar for members of US Congress

Politicians, intellectuals, businessmen and deputies attended an iftar held by the Turkic American Alliance. (Photo: Cihan)
Politicians, intellectuals, businessmen and deputies attended an iftar held by the Turkic American Alliance. (Photo: Cihan)


Date posted: June 26, 2015

İHSAN DENLİ / WASHINGTON

The Turkic American Alliance (TAA), the umbrella organization for various Turkic associations in the US, held an iftar for members and staffers of the US Congress, civil society leaders and academics at the US Capitol on Wednesday.

Speaking to the gathering at the beginning of the iftar, TAA President Faruk Taban explained that the holy month of Ramadan is a time to give thanks, bringing together family, friends and loved ones. Taban also mentioned that the TAA offers iftar to the public at its Washington office almost every day of Ramadan.

At the dinner, speakers addressed the topics of unity and friendship. Congresswoman Debbie Dingell, a Democrat in the House of Representatives, expressed gratitude for the iftar and stated that her attendance was an effort to be a part of the community represented by the TAA. The event was the fourth iftar the TAA has organized for members of Congress, and was also attended by the imam of the Ezher Mosque in Fairfax, Virginia.

The call to prayer was recited in the meeting hall of the US House Committee on Armed Services, where wartime decisions have been made.

“Love is a Verb,” the first feature-length movie about prominent Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen and the Hizmet movement, or Gülen movement, inspired by Gülen’s views, was shown during the dinner. The film was co-written and directed by Terry Spencer Hesser.

The TAA is the largest Turkic civil society organization in the US, consisting of six regional federations and including more than 200 associations.

Source: Today's Zaman , June 26, 2015

Tags: | | | |


Related News

Philippine education minister invites Turks to open more schools in his country

Philippine Minister of Education Armin Altamirano Luistro, attending a dinner organized by a Turkish foundation in Manila on Sunday evening, has invited more Turks to open new schools in his country. Sharing his feelings Mr. Luistro gave a message of intercultural dialogue. He said: “The speaker from Turkey Dr. Ahmet Muharrem Atlığ, is an Islamic religious scholar. And I am a Christian scholar. We talked about the same things during our speeches.

Turks fleeing post-coup reprisals find shelter in Pittsburgh

Until this summer, Cetin Gul of Istanbul, Turkey, worked as a videographer for a company that did promotional work for clients that included a charity organization. That charity, Hizmet, is associated with the movement of Fethullah Gulen. After a deadly and unsuccessful coup attempt by some in the Turkish military in July, the government began suppressing organizations associated with him. “Because of the direct association with Hizmet, I was a direct target,” Mr. Gul said.

The Gülen Movement in the public sphere

The Abant Platform is a good example of a religiously inspired social capital formation in a society with ideological, ethnic and religious fault lines. This platform departs from a belief that religion, and particularly Islam, can be a positive factor in social, political and economic life. The Gülen movement has been quite successful in utilizing its cultural and human capital in order to empower the civil society and expand the democratic space available for the formally excluded periphery vis-à-vis the centre.

Foundation gives to poor students

Nigerian Turkish International Colleges Foundation (NTIC Foundation) has started distributing 13,000 learning aids to underprivileged students. The project is known as “I Support a Child’s Education”.

Canada’s Turkish community on edge as government crackdown continues

In the aftermath of the failed coup — and the subsequent purge of thousands of workers accused of being dissidents — Canada has seen a spike in asylum claims from Turkey. The 55,000-strong Turkish-Canadian community has also become increasingly polarized, with distrust and accusations of witch hunts against anyone deemed to be a sympathizer and supporter of the Gulen Movement.

‘A movement like the Hizmet Movement is very important for correcting misconceptions of Islam’

Dr. Lawrence Geraty is a Professor of Archaeology and Old Testament Studies at La Sierra University in Riverside, California. He served as the second President of La Sierra University. He completed his PhD in Syro-Palestinian Archaeology at Harvard University.

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

Turkish school leaves tight quarters for spacious former Wayne corporate building

False reports on Bank Asya breach laws

An Interview with Fethullah Gülen

13 criteria Erdogan regime uses to determine Gulen supporters are terrorists

SEASON OF PEACE: Moderate Islam has a voice if you listen

A reality check on [Turkey coup attempt] from America’s spy chief

‘The Gulen movement is one of the very few that has managed to live what it preaches.’

Copyright 2026 Hizmet News