Fethullah Gulen’s message in memory of Nelson Mandela


Date posted: December 9, 2013

Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen has expressed condolences over former South African President Nelson Mandela’s death, lauding him for dedicating his life to principles such as peace, democracy, social justice and equality.

In a letter he sent to the South African Embassy in Washington, Gülen said, “We remember Mandela’s honorable life and his heritage.”

“We pay tribute to the honorable life and legacy of Nelson Mandela, who devoted himself to the principles of peace, democracy, social justice and equality. Faced with extraordinary challenges and adversity, he chose reconciliation over retaliation and, in doing so, set an example of living a more noble life. As we remember the lessons and wisdom of Mandela, we must reaffirm our commitment to the dignity of all humans, and to our shared values of peace, mutual understanding and respect through open dialogue.”

– Fethullah Gulen

Source: Allience for Shared Values , December 9, 2013


Related News

Professor Ori Z. Soltes: ‘Fethullah Gülen wants to be an altruistic servant of others’

Professor Ori Z. Soltes, author of ‘Embracing the World: Fethullah Gülen’s Thought and Its Relationship to Jalaluddin Rumi and Others,’ explains how Gülen’s perception of Sufism is grounded particularly in the work of thinkers such as Jalaluddin Rumi, Ibn Arabi and Said Nursi, but is also grounded in the idea of selflessness.

Ikbal Gürpınar Hospital is connecting Sudanese people to life

Ikbal Gürpinar Hospital continues to provide services to the citizens of Sudan and this June will mark it’s first year anniversary. ENT, Children, Maternity, Dental, Eye and Internal medicine services are provided at the hospital and the first baby to open it’s eyes there was named Ikbal. Ikbal Gürpınar Hospital*, which was opened last year […]

Italian professor: Fethullah Gulen is a true lover of the Prophet

Professor Francesco Zannini, a prominent figure in the field of Islamic Studies in Italy, described Fethullah Gulen as a true “lover of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).” At a conference held at Torino University about Fethullah Gulen and the Gulen movement (aka Hizmet movement), Dr. Zannini explained he saw that preserving religious values did not require […]

President Ellen Commends Turkish School for Commitment to Pursuing Quality Education

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has commended students of Cyber-Ed Christian School of Excellence Liberia—Turkish International School for being so courageous, disciplined and committed to pursuing quality education at their various schools of learning.

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

BÜLENT KENEŞ The interview Mr. Fethullah Gülen, a well-respected Turkish-Islamic scholar, gave to Rudaw, an online newspaper in northern Iraq’s Arbil, resounded powerfully in the Turkish media. I must note that it would be wrong to analyze the views Mr. Gülen expressed in this interview within the scope of the developments that have occurred in the wake of […]

Erdogan and Gulen: Inevitable Clash?

Unlike Turkey’s classical Islamic activists, Gulen always distanced himself from politics, and like Said Nursi, his main source of inspiration, his message was focused on grassroots social activism, most importantly an education combining both Islam and modern science. Hizmet’s main goal was social: raising a new “golden” generation fusing moderate Muslim and Modern ethics to become the backbone of Turkey’s society and bureaucracy and its messengers to the world.

Latest News

Turkish inmate jailed over alleged Gülen links dies of heart attack in prison

Message of Condemnation and Condolences for Mass Shooting at Bondi Beach, Sydney

Media executive Hidayet Karaca marks 11th year in prison over alleged links to Gülen movement

ECtHR faults Turkey for convictions of 2,420 applicants over Gülen links in follow-up to 2023 judgment

New Book Exposes Erdoğan’s “Civil Death Project” Targeting the Hizmet Movement

European Human Rights Treaty Faces Legal And Political Tests

ECtHR rejects Turkey’s appeal, clearing path for retrials in Gülen-linked cases

Erdoğan’s Civil Death Project’ : The ‘politicide’ spanning more than a decade

Fethullah Gülen’s Vision and the Purpose of Hizmet

In Case You Missed It

Erdoğan rewards the killers of Gülenists

Abant Platform discusses terror at UN headquarters in Vienna

17,000 women, 515 babies in Turkish prisons: SCF report

Gülen’s German collaborator, or the German slap?

National Development Requires Peaceful Co-existence

PM Basindawa opens new campus of Turkish-Yemeni School

NJ Legislature recognized Turkish-American organizations for accomplishments, contributions

Copyright 2026 Hizmet News