Turkish groups call for global peace at historic İstanbul meeting

The Journalists and Writers Foundation (GYV) held an annual meeting with members from around the world on July 9 in İstanbul.
The Journalists and Writers Foundation (GYV) held an annual meeting with members from around the world on July 9 in İstanbul.


Date posted: July 11, 2011

MAHİR ZEYNALOV, İSTANBUL

Turkish intercultural and interfaith organizations from 66 countries around the globe pledged to continue efforts to contribute to global peace and dialogue in a historic gathering in İstanbul on Saturday, sharing experiences that might help guide their future dialogue activities.

“We only aim to contribute to peace and to serve humanity,” Mustafa Yeşil said at the opening speech. Yeşil is the chairman of the Journalists and Writers Foundation (GYV) and the sponsor and host of the event, “International Meeting on Sharing Experience of Coexistence,” which featured 54 participating and 11 observer countries.

Inspired by esteemed Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, Turkish activists have established intercultural and interfaith organizations in more than 100 countries all around the world, mostly in the past decade. The primary objective of these organizations and their activities is to promote Turkish culture, encourage tolerance and build bridges across different ethnic and religious groups.

Yeşil told participants that humanity is now witnessing how an Anatolian movement is transforming into a global peace project, adding that the dialogue organizations affiliated with this movement have always promoted educational activities.

Listing three “fundamental problems,” which he said must be tackled urgently, Yeşil said intercultural organizations have been fighting to eradicate poverty, conflicts and ignorance. The GYV chairman said the dialogue organizations have demonstrated that they are effective in fighting against ethnic, religious and cultural conflicts, stressing that the organizations wanted to share their experience to see to what degree these institutions are serving peace in the world.

Yeşil underlined that differences should not be a cause of conflict, urging people to come together, discuss and solve issues through talking and understanding each other. Lauding the activities of the dialogue organizations, Yeşil said, “We are now witnessing how warmly these people are welcomed.”

According to Yeşil, these institutions have gained the trust of public institutions in the countries in which they operate and have boosted Turkey’s reputation by promoting Turkish culture. He dismissed claims that these organizations have a pan-Turkist and pan-Islamist agenda, arguing that the dialogue organizations are seeking to show people ways to coexist together peacefully.

This meeting is the second of its kind and the first one that was open to the media. Some of the representatives of the dialogue organizations from all around the world presented their activities, followed by discussions on how to make these activities better and more productive.

Unveiling the financial sources of these activities, Yeşil said businessmen only in the countries where these organizations operate fund the activities, which include seminars, conferences, cultural nights and cultural trips.

Representatives from Belgium, Afghanistan, India, Romania, the US, South Korea, Australia, Egypt, South Korea and post-Soviet countries presented their dialogue organizations and their inter-cultural activities.

The representatives said the main dialogue activities of their organizations are cultural trips and conferences. The conferences and panel discussions are primarily academic in content and usually feature issues related to Gülen’s ideas, religious co-existence and inter-faith dialogue. The representatives quoted people with whom they have had contacts as part of their dialogue activities who praised the Turkish people involved in these works.

The representatives said the participation of government officials, sometimes ministers, showed how well their activities are received in the countries in which they serve they serve.

Ahmet Kurucan, who was representing the US at the event, said there is no term like “foreigner” used in the US because everyone there is part of a distinct identity, clustered in different parts of the US. Kurucan said he is based in New Jersey, but he is representing dozens of dialogue and cultural organizations in the US.

Kurucan said in his presentation that luncheons, interfaith and intercultural activities, academic programs, state assembly receptions, Turkey trips, award ceremonies and Turkish festivals are seven types of events that these organizations plan.

Source: Today's Zaman , 10 July 2011, Sunday


Related News

Turkish businessmen have first iftar with Syrian refugees in Hatay

A group of Turkish businessman traveled to Kilis province on Wednesday to join an iftar dinner with Syrian refugees, according to media reports. After iftar, one of the Syrian refugees gave a speech in Turkish, saying: “We are refugees here and you have left your homes and your children and you have come here to have iftar with us. We are very happy and grateful for what you have done for us.”

Mothers meet in İstanbul to mark Mother’s Day, see their children

A mother, Vera Stamova from Moldova, expressed similar feelings. “My two children study in Turkey. My younger daughter studied in Turkish schools [in Moldova]. She received a quality education. I love Turkey and I have great confidence in Turkish people. If I had another child, I would also send her to Turkey. I miss them a lot, but they are very lucky and are taken good care of here,” she said.

Letter campaign launched for Turkey’s imprisoned women, mothers

In the aftermath of a failed coup attempt on July 15, 2016, more than 17,000 women from all walks of life including teachers, doctors and housewives have been jailed in Turkey on coup charges in government-led operations. There are currently more than 700 children accompanying their mothers in Turkish jails.

Human Rights Watch: Emergency Decrees Facilitate Torture in Turkey

Turkish police have tortured and otherwise ill-treated individuals in their custody after emergency decrees removed crucial safeguards in the wake of a failed coup attempt in July, 2016, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. The report details 13 cases of alleged abuse, including stress positions, sleep deprivation, severe beatings, sexual abuse, and rape threats, since the coup attempt.

Peace Islands Institute Annual Gala 2014

On November 20, 2014 Peace Islands Institute hosted an audience of 250 people at its Annual Gala at The Plaza Hotel in New York City. The gala featured a silent auction, live appeal, dinner and exciting live performances.

Turkish authorities withdraw license of station linked to PM Erdogan’s opponents

Fatih Karaca, head of the media unit of Ipek group of companies, said Thursday Turkey’s radio and television watchdog revoked the license of KanalTurk television, citing a 2010 court decision. He maintained that the decision against the station — which is linked to a movement led by U.S.-based moderate Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen — was “politically-motivated.”

Latest News

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

University refuses admission to woman jailed over Gülen links

In Case You Missed It

Benin seeks development with investments of Turkish enterprises

What does Turkey deserve?

Turkish movie ‘Selam’ received with great interest at İstanbul gala

Medialog calls for law against hate speech and crime [in Turkey]

Turkish Islamic scholar Gülen rejects any link to graft probe

Learnium International: A school with a difference in Sri Lanka

Turkish Cultural Center Maine honors Governor LePage

Copyright 2023 Hizmet News