Gülen Movement’s role on London conference agenda

The Gülen movement was explored by many scholars and academicians at the London School of Economics during the three-day conference.
The Gülen movement was explored by many scholars and academicians at the London School of Economics during the three-day conference.


Date posted: October 26, 2007

ALİ İHSAN AYDIN

The Gülen movement’s past, present and potential future influence on the Muslim world will be explored in a conference titled “Muslim World in Transition: Contributions of the Gülen Movement,” to be held on Oct. 25-27 at the House of Lords in London.

Organized by the Middle East Institute, the London Middle East Institute and Leeds Metropolitan University, the conference will examine the theological and intellectual contributions of Fethullah Gülen, situate him within the context of modern Islam’s intellectual history and discuss his own interpretations of faith-based issues. The movement’s projects regarding East-West relations, inter-civilizational cooperation, and global terrorism are of particular interest for the purposes of the conference. The radical social, economic, political and intellectual change, which the Muslim world has been undergoing since its encounter with the West several centuries ago, will also be discussed throughout this conference, the aim of which is to examine the nature and depth of this change and the impact of the Gülen movement on the contemporary Muslim world as well as the relations between the West and Islam in general.

Two parallel sessions — “The Gülen Movement in Redefining Turkey and Anatolian Muslimness” and “Euro-Islam, Identity and Integration” — will be held throughout the conference, during which Turkish Muslim writer and columnist Mustafa Akyol will address the audience with a speech titled “What Made the Gülen Movement Possible,” and columnist and writer Fatih Tedik will deliver an address titled “The Gülen Movement as a Mechanism for Integration of the Muslim Community in Europe: Potential and Constraints.” In addition, Muslim scholar Professor Marcia Hermansen will get across to the audience with her speech “The Cultivation of Memory in the Gülen Community,” and psychodrama psychotherapist Kate Kirk with “Modern Ideals and Muslim Identity: Harmony or Contradiction? A Text Linguistic Analysis of Gülen’s Teachings and Movement.”

As a religious intellectual and peace activist from Turkey, Gülen has influenced a whole generation of Muslims worldwide and inspired them to play an important role in charitable and educational projects and foundations. Setting off with the objective of bringing out the universal mission of Islam, which is to serve people worldwide regardless of faith, color or national origin, Gülen will bring several scholars and religious thinkers together at the conference to highlight the serious dialogue between Islam and the West.

Source: Today's Zaman , October 25, 2007


Related News

Documents expose plot to hold Hizmet responsible for KPSS cheating

The Zaman daily has published documents which reveal that a plot was devised to unjustly hold the members of the Hizmet Movement responsible for a cheating scandal at the State Personnel Examination (KPSS) in 2010.

A Muslim Cleric That America Should Support

Usually, when Americans hear the term “Muslim cleric,” they cringe. Yet there’s an Islamic religious leader who calls for peace and inter-faith dialogue, whose supporters are being rounded up by an increasingly authoritarian leader. Backing the right leader could be the key in the war against ISIS.

Collective punishment [of Hizmet movement]

The problem is not about the failure of the members of the Hizmet movement to obey orders from their superiors in the public service but about the claim that the prosecutors and police chiefs who conducted the graft and bribery investigation are members of the Hizmet movement — a claim which has yet to be proven.

Toward an Islamic enlightenment

Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, who has put forward an interpretation of Islam that advocates peace, democracy, secularism (in the sense of freedom of religion and conscience for all), science, education and a market economy, and who has supported interfaith dialogue and mutual understanding and respect for people of different ethnic and religious identities and lifestyles, has been the topic of much curiosity for native as well as foreign observers of Turkey.

‘State of rule of law suspended in Turkey, if not completely eliminated’

I’ve been in the military judiciary for years and I haven’t observed anything like it [“parallel state” in regards to the Hizmet movement], and I haven’t observed it in the civilian judiciary, either.

Which is the bigger threat, Turkey’s coup or Erdogan’s response?

Erdogan’s counter-coup may do more to change Turkish politics than the coup plotters ever sought, completing the country’s transformation from secular democracy to what’s fast becoming the new favorite government for aspiring dictators — one where the media is strictly controlled, conformity is entrenched through the schools, elections bring little change, and presidents can rule for life.

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

Report reveals repercussions of AK Party fight against Gülen movement in Africa

‘Hizmet Movement is teaching “habits of the heart”, without any request for payback’

President Gul says debates over prep schools should not lead to ‘resentment’

Turkish high-schooler commits suicide after father was dismissed under emergency rules

Turkish spies working for President Erdogan ‘infiltrate Germany’s migrant community’

Expert: I fear that Turkey is headed to a prolonged period of civil conflict if not civil war

Turkish school honored with state medal in Laos

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News