Rumi Forum bestows Peace and Dialogue awards 2013

The Rumi Forum, an international organization promoting interfaith dialogue and peace, honored its 2013 RUMI Peace and Dialogue Award recipients on Thursday evening in Washington, D.C. (Photo: Cihan, İhsan Denli)
The Rumi Forum, an international organization promoting interfaith dialogue and peace, honored its 2013 RUMI Peace and Dialogue Award recipients on Thursday evening in Washington, D.C. (Photo: Cihan, İhsan Denli)


Date posted: October 25, 2013

The Rumi Forum, an international organization promoting interfaith dialogue and peace, honored its 2013 RUMI Peace and Dialogue Award recipients on Thursday evening at the National Press Club Ballroom in Washington, D.C.

In attendance at the seventh of the Rumi Forum’s annual Peace and Dialogue Awards ceremonies were academics from 15 different countries and representatives of civil society organizations.

Three awards in three different categories were presented to the honorees. Jose Andres, a chef who was listed among the most influential 100 in the world, mostly known for designing methods of cooking to end hunger in underdeveloped countries, received the Extraordinary Commitment to Public Service Award. Annette Lantos, the chairwoman of the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice was given the Extraordinary Commitment to Peace Award. Lastly, deemed one of the world’s most significant intellectuals and an Albert Schweitzer professor in the Humanities and the Director of the Institute of Global Cultural Studies at Binghamton University in Binghamton, New York, Ali Mazrui was honored with the Extraordinary Commitment to Educational Service Award.

Recalling that the Rumi Forum, which was founded in 1999 with the mission to foster interfaith and intercultural dialogue, stimulates thinking and exchange of opinions on supporting and fostering democracy and peace all over the world, forum President Emre Çelik stated that it further aimed to provide a common platform for education and the exchange of information. Çelik, seeing education and dialogue as the only means to overcome ignorance added: “The Rumi Forum’s honorary president, Fethullah Gülen, motivates institutions established with similar purposes about adopting common values like respect for human rights and democracy.”

Delivering the opening speech at the organization, Angela Greiling Keane stated that her organization had many missions, most of which are in line with ideas Mevlana, the founder of a Sufi school of spiritual thought, supported. Keane, focusing on the fact that they placed much importance on freedom of speech, said they had carried out studies worldwide on this crucial matter. Spreading of dialogue and tolerance is what they try to achieve, she added.

South African Ambassador in Washington Ebrahim Rasool said after he read “Masnavi,” written by Sofi Saint Mevlana, his admiration towards Mevlana grew as he thought the book was a remarkable work. Resul added that the Rumi Forum was a part of the Hizmet movement, known for its cultural and educational activities around the world.

The Rumi Forum’s annual awards honor individuals who work towards promoting education, bringing interfaith groups together in understanding and dialogue and promoting cultural understanding and inclusion.

Source: Today's Zaman , October 25, 2013


Related News

UN-DESA 53rd Commission for Social Development

Journalists and Writers Foundation, Albert Schweitzer Institute, and Peace Islands Institute held a panel discussion titled “Peaceful and Cohesive Societies for Social Development,” during the UN DESA 53rd Commission for Social Development.

Turkey’s once-worldly aims falter, even close allies concerned

Power appears to have gone to the prime minister’s head. Angling to become president in order to extend his rule, Erdogan is foolishly profiling and purging former friends in the Hizmet movement, recently firing hundreds of government employees who are allegedly (no one knows for sure as there’s no evidence) sympathetic to the movement’s founder, Fethullah Gulen

A strong message for Erdogan

Gulen, who has been living in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania since 1999, promotes a philosophy that comprises elements of moderate Islam and Sufi mysticism, free-market economics, and interfaith tolerance. That he has a wide following in Turkey (and elsewhere) is not in doubt. As for Erdogan, he can be an Islamist sultan or he can be the democratic leader of a trusted NATO ally. But he can’t be both, and the time has come to make him choose.

Thunder center Enes Kanter sure looks tiny compared to the world’s tallest man

The two men were at the grand opening Thursday of a new private school, Fulton Science Academy, in the Atlanta suburb of Alpharetta. Kosen was there to discuss his experiences growing up so different from most people.

Toward a security state

Hizmet movement resembles Western civil society groups and organizations in terms of creating public discussion platforms and performing education and unity-related activities. In addition, what makes the movement more important is that it does not depend on the state in order to survive and sustain its effectiveness.

Academics sign statement saying ‘rule of law suspended’

Professor Ayhan Aktar, Professor Ersin Kalaycıoğlu and Professor Yasemin İnceoğlu, as well as 147 other academics, signed a statement saying that the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government cannot ignore corruption allegations by making up claims of a “parallel state” — which has no meaning in political science or law — and placing all responsibility of unlawful acts on the Hizmet movement, which was inspired by Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen.

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

Tamsil: The inadvertent overspill of internalization

Interview with Rt Hon Hazel Blears MP, at London Premiere of Love is a Verb

Malaysia deports 3 Turks despite warnings of torture risk

Kurdish intellectuals denounce attack on Şırnak educational institution

Embrace Relief Worldwide Qurban (Feast of Sacrifice) Campaign

Heightened anxieties in Kosovo after arrest of ‘Gulenist educator’

Archbishop Fitzgerald: Fethullah Gülen has inspired many Muslims to be engaged in interfaith dialogue

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News