Hizmet movement discussed in heart of African Union

About 2,500 academics and top state officials gathered in a symposium on the Hizmet movement and the concept of dialogue held in Ethiopia on Wednesday. (Photo: Today's Zaman)
About 2,500 academics and top state officials gathered in a symposium on the Hizmet movement and the concept of dialogue held in Ethiopia on Wednesday. (Photo: Today's Zaman)


Date posted: May 30, 2012

30 May 2012 / KAMİL ERGİN , ADDIS ABABA

An international symposium on the Hizmet movement (aka Gulen movement), which includes followers of Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen’s principles, and the concept of dialogue, held in Ethiopia last week, brought together a large number of academics and top state officials from close to 40 countries to share their views regarding the motives and practices of the movement.

The symposium, jointly organized by the African Union Commission (AUC), International Necaşi Turkish College and the Inter-Religious Council of Ethiopia on May 28, 2012, played host close to 2,500 attendees in the African Union’s newly built headquarters in the capital city of Addis Ababa.

Expressing his contentment with the large attendance and interest in the symposium, the representative of the African Union, Salah S. Hammad, said the fact that a large crowd full of international observers and members of the press was present at the program is proof of how important the event is. “And also it is meaningful that the program coincides with Africa Day, when our hopes for seeing the whole African continent living together in peace hits a peak.” Africa Day is annually celebrated on May 25, commemorating the 1963 founding of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), the African Union’s successor.

Islamic scholar Gülen also sent a message to the symposium, saying that the speakers and participants in attendance from African, Asian and American countries are not only helping to contribute to mutual tolerance and maintenance of cultures, which is the leading message of the symposium, but are also contributing to the Hizmet movement’s aim of global peace. “Thanks to your precious efforts and true sincerity, I have more hope in seeing different cultures and civilizations blend into a harmonious configuration.”Starting his speech with the question of “Have you ever thought about why so many young Turkish teachers leave their country and come to Ethiopia to found a school, and about the philosophy behind this move,” Georgetown University professor and former Secretary of the Vatican Secretariat for Interreligious Dialogue Thomas Michel focused on the motives, aims and achievements of the Hizmet movement. He said at the core of the movement lies the culture of co-existence and dialogue. “We have three common enemies: poverty, ignorance and contention,” he said. “Schools founded by the movement across the world aim to bring solutions to these three problems.”

Ethiopian minister: Hizmet signals the start of a new era

Another speaker at the event, Ethiopian Federal Affairs Minister Shiferaw Teklemariam, said the program is very meaningful as it brings representatives of various cultural and religious groups together in Ethiopia. “I find these Turkish schools and their education system to be very successful. These schools have a multi-cultural structure and a culture of co-existence is strongly supported despite the differences. As we all know, today’s major problems are all about contention, discrimination and radicalism; but this schools’ philosophy suggests and teaches the opposite concepts; tolerance, harmony and moderation. I think this philosophy of the movement signals the start of a bright new era,” the Ethiopian minister said.

Teklemariam, further, said that his knowledge of the movement is based on some books about the movement and some of Gülen’s books he has read and his observations when he visited the movement’s schools in Turkey.

Source: http://www.todayszaman.com/news-282012-hizmet-movement-discussed-in-heart-of-african-union.html


Related News

Police raid Gülen-inspired prep schools in Erzurum

In another government-orchestrated operation targeting the faith-based Gülen movement, popularly known as the Hizmet movement, police officers and inspectors from a number of ministries and government bodies carried out raids early on Thursday on FEM prep schools established by Hizmet volunteers in Erzurum.

Tanzanian Minister hails Turkey for continued support in education

Tanzania ISHIK Medical and Education Foundation managed to sponsor more than 200 students to study in Turkey universities in different fields.

Dogan: Gulen earned sympathy among Alevis

Speaking of Gulen’s “mosques-cemevi project” proposal, Dogan said, “Gulen is an exceptional intellectual who can identify conspiracies against Alevis and Sunnis.” Cem Foundation President Prof. Izzettin Dogan gave noteworthy statements to the daily BUGUN concerning the recent issues ranging from Fethullah Gulen‘s remarks “Let’s not sacrifice all the bridges to build one. Mosques and cemevis should […]

Understanding Fethullah Gülen (1)

Ekrem Dumanli Some of the most reliable newspapers in the world published important articles about Fethullah Gülen last month. For instance, the International Herald Tribune wrote that Gülen was “an inspiration for Muslims who feel at home in the modern world.” After dwelling on his childhood spent in Erzurum, his youth, his activities following his […]

Turkish schools abroad victims of AKP-Gulen conflict

The fate of the Gulen movement’s schools — located in over 160 countries — is being debated following Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s declaration of war in the wake of the Dec. 17 graft probe that targeted individuals associated with his government.

Power struggle for the state or deep rift about Turkey?

As an external observer, I see a profound rift having taken place between Erdoğan — more than anybody else in the AKP — and the Hizmet movement; and that has much less to do with the power struggle than a resistance to another massive, individual attempt to accumulate power in one person.What has defined Erdoğan’s way with various social segments since 2011 is to alienate, antagonize, suppress and devour. So was his pattern with the dissident Kurds, Alevis, leftists, liberals and now Hizmet.

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

‘Even deeper than 9/11’

Upholding of Yıldırım’s conviction; another case of ‘significant timing’

Developing Ghana; the role of Tudec and Galaxy İnt’l School

Woman with soft tissue tumor held in Ankara prison for 8 months: report

University refuses admission to woman jailed over Gülen links

Mother with 25-day-old baby jailed on coup charges in Istanbul

Turkey Coup Attempt Explained

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News