Catholic University of Leuven establishes Fethullah Gülen Chair

Officials from the Catholic University of Leuven have established a chair named after Turkish scholar Fethullah Gülen
Officials from the Catholic University of Leuven have established a chair named after Turkish scholar Fethullah Gülen


Date posted: December 9, 2010

HATİCE AVCI, LEUVEN

A chair named after the well-respected Turkish scholar Fethullah Gülen has been established at one of Belgium’s most prestigious Catholic universities, the Catholic University of Leuven, with university officials saying it is a source of pleasure for them to have a chair named after Gülen.

The Fethullah Gülen Chair for Intercultural Studies was established with the efforts of the Brussels-based Intercultural Dialogue Platform (IDP), whose honorary chairman is Gülen. An inauguration ceremony was held on Monday at the university. As part of an agreement signed between the IDP and the university, the chair will carry out academic research and organize conferences for five years.

Social and Cultural Anthropology Professor Johan Leman, who will be the chair holder, and university Rector Mark Waer expressed pleasure to host the chair. In a statement he released on the occasion of the establishment of the chair, Leman said that as an intellectual and spiritual leader, Gülen has encouraged his Muslim fellows to take initiatives to build bridges, particularly between Islam and modernity, science and spirituality, and reason and faith.

Noting that he has motivated millions to engage and invest in sustaining peace and improving community relations through nondenominational education and intercultural dialogue, Leman said Gülen’s recognition of democracy as the only viable political system of governance and his emphasis on diversity, equal access to human rights, freedom of belief for all, loyalty to the law of the land and the non-instrumentalization of religion in politics make his message one of the most promising calls for the future of relations between the West and the Muslim community.

“His message now has a growing influence, particularly among the second-generation migrant-origin citizens of Europe. It is our hope that this chair, inspired by this message, will contribute to the bridge-building process through promoting intercultural understanding and stimulating research on relations between Muslim communities and the wider society in Belgium and Europe,” he said. Gülen is a Turkish Islamic scholar well known for his teachings promoting 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. He has written nearly 50 books in Turkish, some of which have been translated into several languages.

IDP Chairman Şerafettin Pektaş told Today’s Zaman that they see the establishment of the chair as the extension of their 10 years of work in Brussels.

Waer said the university gives the Muslim world the message that the university is open to “academic dialogue with the Muslim world.” Stating that they show that Muslims and Catholics can work together in academia, he said this message should not be played down. Addressing claims that Gülen and his followers have a secret agenda, Waer said they pay no attention to this. Professor Leman also said these claims are groundless and exaggerated. Stating that they have received “warnings” from groups in Turkey when they announced that they would establish the Gülen chair, Leman said he has been in contact with members of the Gülen movement for three years and had never encountered a secret agenda.

 

Source: Today's Zaman , 09 December 2010


Related News

Turkish Syriac Catholic patriarch launches ‘Fruits of Dialogue’

“Diyaloğun Meyveleri” (Fruits of Dialogue), a book by Deputy Patriarch of the Turkish Syriac Catholic Church Yusuf Sağ, was launched at a reception held at Taksim Green Park Hotel in İstanbul on Tuesday night. Delivering a speech at the event, Bartholomew praised the role of Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen in promoting dialogue among different faiths.

Thousands pay final respects to Gülen’s brother in Erzurum

Seyfullah Gülen, who died at the age of 72 on Friday and was the brother of Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, was laid to rest in a funeral attended by thousands of people in the eastern province of Erzurum on Sunday.

Turkish American Society Builds Bridges

The Turkish American Society of Chicago inaugurated its brand new culture center. The event was attended by prominent politicians, artists and businessmen from the windy city. The TASC supports multiculturalism and is dedicated to establishing good relations between the American -Turkish diaspora. Fatih Yildiz, the Turkish Consul General in Chicago, encompassed the philosophy of the […]

Austrian politician documents Turkish surveillance abroad [on Gulen movement]

Turkish diplomatic offices around the world are gathering information in a bid to undermine organizations loyal to a Muslim cleric. Turkey is pressing nations to crack down on the Gulen movement’s network of schools and charities outside of the country.

Gülen has been awarded an honorary doctorate by Leeds Metropolitan University

Turkish Muslim scholar, educator and peace activist, M. Fethullah Gülen, has been awarded an honorary doctorate by Leeds Metropolitan at the University’s Summer Graduation celebrations for his contribution to education, peace making and intercultural dialogue. Through his teachings and work, Fethullah Gülen has initiated and inspired a transnational civil society movement to invest in education […]

Launch of Fethullah Gulen Chair in Islamic Studies and Intercultural Dialogue at Deakin University

The Melbourne based Deakin University launched its inaugural Chair, named after Fethullah Gulen, in Islamic Studies and Intercultural Dialogue with a ceremony held on Tuesday 22 November at its Melbourne Corporate Centre. Professor Jane Den Hollander, President and Vice-Chancellor of Deakin University officially launched the Chair.

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

Turkish minister: Gulenists are more dangerous than ISIL because they’re well-educated

Samanyolu TV, Kimse Yok Mu raise TL 65 million for quake victims

HIzmet centre takes on Erdogan regime

Zaman Stanizai on Fethullah Gulen and Hizmet Movement

Bank Asya answers smear campaign

Scholars: Hizmet efforts to build schools will not stop

Dutch police detain second Turkish man for threatening Erdoğan critics

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News