Gülen movement-backed Abant Platform to discuss Alevi-Sunni ties


Date posted: December 13, 2013

BOLU, TURKEY

The Alevi issue is the key theme of this year’s Abant Platform, which started on Dec. 13 by way of the organization efforts of the Gülen Movement-affiliated Journalists and Writers Foundation (GYV).

The three-day meeting which has gathered intellectuals from various ideological camps came at a time when tension between the government and the movement has become extremely visible in the eyes of the public due to the former’s plans of “transforming” the private “cram schools” that prepare high school students for Turkey’s highly competitive university entrance exam. Although the government prefers to dub the move as a transformation, it is widely interpreted as a closure down of all those schools, a considerable number of which have been run by businesspersons who have ties with the Gülen movement.

The meeting, titled “Alevis and Sunnis: Searching for Peace and a Future Together,” aims to promote mutual coexistence with open discussion sessions between over 150 people, including academics, researchers, journalists, prominent figures from both Alevi and Sunni civil society groups, as well as officials from the Directorate-General of Religious Affairs (Diyanet).

Matters that are on the agenda and to be debated include faith relations in Turkey and the Middle East from a historical perspective, the social cost of polarization, freedom of conscience and faith, equality in freedoms and rights, and having Alevis and Sunnis become more familiar with each other.

The Abant Platform holds conference each year focusing on an array of issues.

Source: Hurriyet Daily News , December 13, 2013


Related News

Hizmet Essay Contest 2015

The Hizmet Essay Contest is an annual contest series that encourages research on the Hizmet movement as well as the works of the Turkish Islamic scholar, Fethullah Gulen. The contest aims to motivate individuals to think critically about issues that affect the international society and, how to tackle these important issues from a Hizmet perspective.

AK Party gov’t violates rule of law with mass profiling of civil servants

Profiling by the government — which a senior member of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) admitted to over Twitter — of some 2,000 senior public officials including police chiefs, prosecutors and judges as well as academics, journalists and business people is a violation of the constitution, analysts have said.

How does PM Erdoğan hurt the liberal pious of Turkey?

Turkey has been vigorously debating the nature of its democracy and popular Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s ruling style, which has increasingly authoritarian tendencies, as never before since the Gezi Park protests in May. From my perspective, the Gezi protests, on which everyone was almost forced to take sides, is a grey area since both the government and the protesters made their share of mistakes.

Istanbul police display hundreds of books among evidence of ‘terror’

Police seized Gülen’s 1,500 books; 24 CDs featuring Gülen’s speeches; TL 435,200 ($148,000) along with $99,200 and 700 euros; several laptops; two guns and some digital data, during operations targeting the alleged terrorist network of the movement.

Prof. Scott Alexander: Hizmet is a social movement for peace

“What I have personally observed is that Hizmet is a movement that embraces contrasts and in which everyone can find a place for themselves. It’s a globally transformational movement. It is, on the other hand, able to combine tradition and modernity and bring them around the common values. Although I might not be necessarily exercising your values, I consider myself a part of this movement. The principles that lead the movement are what lead my life as well.” Alexander remarked.

12-year-old denied departure from Turkey for treatment in Cuba dies of cancer

A 12-year-old child has died of brain cancer several months after Turkish border agents seized his and his parents’ passports at İstanbul Atatürk Airport, causing the family to abandon their plans to receive cancer treatment in Cuba.

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

Turkish NGOs-initiated hospital underway in Uganda

Turkey: Inspiring or insidious

Today’s Zaman Editor-in-Chief Bülent Keneş released pending trial

AK Party criticizes Hakan Şükür’s sudden resignation

Islamic scholar Gülen rejects involvement with graft probe and wiretappings

World is not Enough

Businessmen, politicians, religious leaders come together at GYV iftar

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News