Gulen Movement’s Global Appeal: Reflections from Chicago

Kadri Gursel
Kadri Gursel


Date posted: November 30, 2010

Kadri Gürsel

Yesterday, in the column I talked about the 12.000 “ashuras” in Chicago by the supporters of the Gulen Movement. Ashura, called Noah’s Pudding in English, is said to represent “living together in peace”. Chickpeas, bean, wheat, and some dried fruits are among the ingredients of Ashura that creates a mixed taste. But while doing this they manage to keep their identities.

In United States, it is easy to be Ashura as the founding values make it possible for a mixed taste to occur. Whereas in Turkey, the clash of the values make it hard for these tastes to share the same pot.

Let’s go back to those who served Ashura in the States. The assistant general manager of the Gulen Movement’s most powerful association Niagara Foundation Hakan Berberoglu said among the places they served Ashura, were colleges, churches, and even the FBI’s division in Chicago. He also said 3.500 of the 12.000 Ashuras were served there in the FBI building. It’s the FBI, (Federal Bureau of Investigation) USA’s federal police…

It’s not an everyday happening for someone to serve Ashura in the FBI building. Especially after the 9/11, a Muslim association must build really good relations and gain great deal of trust to be able to do this. Obviously Niagara Foundation managed it. The fact that FBI’s chief officer in Chicago Robert D. Grant gave a speech in the foundation approximately three years ago shows this trust. We all know that Gulen’s supporters would like to build good relations with the authority wherever they go. I respect this if they explain their Ashura serving to the FBI, as a fruit of this will. What I’m really into it is the impression Ashura left in the minds of the FBI officers.

There’s said to be 100.000 Muslims living in Chicago and if there’s any terrorists between them FBI’s one of the most critical missions is finding and neutralizing them. So we can assume that they have this “Muslim Terrorist image” somewhere in their mind.

And as Hakan Berberoglu puts it, Gulen’s supporters, no matter where it is in the USA, appear not only in front of FBI but also all the authorities, not as terrorists but as Muslims with good images who are in interaction with every walk of life. Their messages and actions are in accordance with this appearance. They talk about tolerance, peace and dialogue and the emphasis they place on education and commerce in their actions is easy to be seen. Moreover they are not anti-Americans. So their image being just the opposite of the “Muslim Terrorist” in FBI officers’ mind shouldn’t come as a surprise.

Therefore, we can assume that, this positive image appeared in the mind of FBI’s Chicago officers is reflected on the Washington D.C.’s big picture and this image is constituting an antidote against  USA’s global issue of “Islamic extremism”. This is the global domino effect started by just a glass of Ashura served in FBI’s Chicago Office.

It also shouldn’t come as a surprise that Gulen Movement is seen by some circles in USA as a rational answer within Islam to all the problems encountered because of the Islamic extremism from violence to all others.

At the Gulen Conference in Chicago this positive perception was expressed in various aspects. Speakers, mostly Americans, were the ones studying Gulen Movement for a long time.

I’m concluding the column by quoting the ones that i find interesting to give you an idea about the perception I’ve mentioned above;

“Carter Findley (Ohio University): In the 21st century, the Gulen Movement may manage to make the impact Gandhi made in the 20th century.

Jeremy Walton (New York State University): It is a post-modern socio-politic movement and after all they have no intention to impress the state.

Greg Barton (Monash University, Australia) Among all the international movements the Gulen Movement is the only one that is proggresivist. The others are Islamists and Islamic cause-centered.

Jon Pahl (Theologian, Temple University): Gulen’s pragmatic mystysism is serving the purpose of global peace.”

Source: Original article was published by Milliyet daily on November 29, 2010 http://www.milliyet.com.tr/gulen-hareketi-nin-kuresel-cazibesi/kadri-gursel/dunya/yazardetay/29.11.2010/1319792/default.htm

 


Related News

Alliance for Shared Values Deplores Paris Shootings

The Alliance for Shared Values condemns in the strongest terms the terrorist attack on French magazine Charlie Hebdo. Such horrific actions represent an assault on democratic values and can never be justified no matter the underlying reason. Even against insults, the befitting response must be legal and civil.

Fethullah Gülen: alleged coup mastermind – and friendly neighbor

Chuck Parker, who lives down the road from Fethullah Gülen, said: “When we have the traditional Thanksgiving, he has a dinner then. He also has a dinner for Ramadan.” He and many other residents have received invitations, which often come with a personal touch. “They usually hand deliver it, or one of the guys bring it over.”

Kurdish paper Rudaw’s interview with Fethullah Gulen

The Gülen movement’s stance toward the Kurdish issue has become ever more questioned since the Turkish government’s recent targeting of the Hizmet movement. A close analysis, however, suggests a complex picture.

Erdogan’s vendetta against moderate Muslims threatens Turkey’s role in War on Terror

This blatant display of force demonstrates how far Turkey’s increasingly autocratic President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will go to solidify his power and pursue his vendetta against the adversary he fears most: the moderate Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, whose columns were published by Zaman.

The Hizmet Community

Ahmet Turan Alkan  12 October 2010 It does not matter whether it is called a community or Hizmet: This movement has very powerful dynamics and despite the huge amount of doubts and reservations which are being sown about it, it has an “open” nature and it can be clearly and easily understood – as its […]

Rumi Forum Hosts Dinner Celebrating Ramadan

The goal of these Rumi Forum dinners is to foster intercultural and interfaith dialogue. Through that conversation, the forum hopes to create understanding and peace.

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

Say What? Ankara Mayor Blames Gulenists for Shaking Turkey With an Earthquake

Mr. Gülen’s felicitous advice on Kurdish issue, freedoms

Judge says judiciary still under tutelage, implies gov’t responsible

Fethullah Gülen grieving for Islamic world amid Eid al Fitr holiday

Hate crimes get worse in Turkey

Kyrgyz President Atambayev: Turkish schools will not be closed

After The Coup Attempt, A Crackdown In Turkey

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News