British Lords introduced to Fethullah Gülen’s concepts

The Lord Ahmed (Nazir Ahmed); he joined the House of Lords in 1998.
The Lord Ahmed (Nazir Ahmed); he joined the House of Lords in 1998.


Date posted: October 27, 2007

BÜLENT KENEŞ

As humanity is suffering from a lack of understanding among cultures and widespread hatred and enmity, it is looking for a solution at the same time that will change the course into the opposite direction.

The scarcity of ideas and groups that will respond to such a search render those that are available more valuable. The movement of volunteers inspired by the thoughts of Fethullah Gülen that have flourished in the Turkish-Muslim geography is seen as just such a “solution,” gaining a more global dimension with every passing day. As a result, it has inevitably become a phenomenon that is closely monitored, examined and discussed by even the most successful circles in the world.

The Gülen movement, which has influenced a whole generation of Muslims worldwide and inspired them to play an important role in charitable and educational projects, succeeded in affecting the House of Lords as well. A conference titled “Muslim World in Transition: Contributions of the Gülen Movement,” which is being held in London on Oct. 25-27, kicked off on Thursday at the House of Lords. Many scholars, ministers and journalists flocked to the inaugural session of the conference.

Those participating in similar conferences organized in previous years were all of the same opinion that the inaugural session of the conference attracted more attendees than expected. A Turkish academic said he appreciated the importance attached by the international community to the conference, saying: “Fethullah Gülen seems to be gradually addressing a greater group as he aims at serving people worldwide, regardless of faith, color or national origin. Such conferences and organizations offer a good opportunity to serve to this end. We should all know that the presentation of a conference is not sufficient on its own unless its content satisfies the participants. We are pleased that the Gülen Movement is worthy of an excellent presentation. In our day, the philosophy of the Gülen Movement and its influence on the Muslim world is worth being explored in international conferences.”

A striking aspect of the movement, which will also be explored throughout the conference, is that almost every segment finds something within the movement to deem worthy of respect and appreciation. The English community, like several other Western communities, evaluates the Gülen movement on the basis of its influence on the Muslim world.

Lord Ahmed, in his inauguration speech, described Gülen as “an Islamic scholar with a new and modern vision” and stressed that the movement inspired by Gülen’s thoughts has enabled Muslim Turks to internalize values such as democracy, human rights, pluralism and mutual respect. He also noted that the Gülen movement had a positive influence on British Muslim youth by preventing them from engaging in any radical groups.

Professor Paul Weller, who was among the speakers, said the most significant act of Gülen was his development of a universal discourse that has remained through time which has its essence in the religion, rather than developing a discourse on a short-term basis according to conjecture, which was the most striking analysis of the day in my own view.

Source: Today's Zaman , October 26, 2007


Related News

The consequences of tyranny never change

Certain groups devised an imaginary and ambiguous crime against the Hizmet movement based on claims of a so-called “parallel state.” However, this is such a vague crime that if those who blame the Hizmet movement for establishing a “parallel state” are accused of the same thing, these charges will seem well-founded, because of ambiguity of the claims.

How to Interview Fethullah Gulen

Turkey is in the spotlight (again) with TIME magazine’s choices for its 2013 list of the 100 most influential peoplein the world. Turkish spiritual leader Fethullah Gulen and the imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK) Abdullah Öcalan were both listed under the leaders section. Öcalan and Gulen are two enigmas. One lives in self-imposed […]

Fethullah Gulen condemns the coup attempt in Turkey

I condemn, in the strongest terms, the attempted military coup in Turkey. Government should be won through a process of free and fair elections, not force.

Fethullah Gulen’s Prominence in Indonesia

“The Honorable Gulen is a scholar whose horizon has transcended Turkey’s borders. He is a prolific mind who perfectly marries his thoughts to his words. The tenderness and elegance in his words captivate not only the mind but also the hearts of the reader.”

Turkey purge victims unable to find jobs, leave country

“It’s a kind of civil death,” Kerem Altiparmak, a human rights lawyer and political science professor at Ankara University told Los Angeles Times on Wednesday when describing how the lives of thousands of people change after the July 15 coup attempt.

Can the EU be blamed for Erdoğan’s authoritarianism?

It may be speculated that the EU’s resistance to Turkey’s European integration has to a certain extent played a role in Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s slide into authoritarianism. If the EU had consistently backed its accession process, Ankara may have consolidated democracy and rule of law, so that such a concentration of power could have been avoided.

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

The Other Side of the Ocean – What Happened in Pennsylvania?

Education remains an alarming concern for scores of Syrian refugees

Turkish school opens in northern Iraq, more schools in demand

Turkish Prisons Are Filled With Professors — Like My Father

Cartoonists put Refugees’ Plight on Canvas

After coup, Turkish activist afraid to return home

Turkish PM heads to Brussels for tough talks with EU

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News