Prof. Weller: Hizmet [movement] accomplished bringing together oppositions in society


Date posted: December 21, 2013

LONDON

The scholarly interest towards the Hizmet Movement has been growingly increasing. On December 4th, the London-based Dialogue Society hosted a book launch of a yet another publication on the movement.

The book is titled “The Muslim World and Politics in Transition: Creative Contributions of the Gulen Movement.” Prof. Paul Weller of University of Derby; Dr. Ihsan Yilmaz of Fatih University, Turkey; Dr. Carool Kersten of King’s College, London; and Dr. Amina Yaqin of SOAS University were present at the event.

Published by Bloomsbury Publishing and consisting of 13 academic articles, the book is edited by the academics Greg Barton, Paul Weller and Ihsan Yilmaz. The first part of the book examines the Hizmet Movement’s contributions as a civil society body. The part two titled “Muslim Politics beyond Post-Islamism” deals with the movement’s contributions to democracy while the part three is dedicated to its initiatives in Muslim world.

Prof. Weller spoke to Cihan News Agency. “Based on my observations, engagement with the affiliated people, and readings and research on the movement, I have arrived at the conclusion that Hizmet plays a crucial role in bringing together opposing groups and enabling them to reach a common ground for society’s good,” Weller said. Noting that it also provides inspiration for those engaging in education, “Education has always contributed positively to civil society. Through education, people can be equipped to better understand each other, their society and the world at large,” he added.

Dr. Kersten, in his statements, said the movement is very clear in its stance against political Islam. Hizmet maintains that transformation in Muslim societies come about among civil societies and an Islamic state model is no longer needed in today’s world, Kersten argued. “Hizmet hold that change along with harmony in Muslim world is possible through education and supporting initiatives,” he added. Regardless of individuals’ religious views and cultural background, Hizmet strongly believes the universal human right parameters and democratic principles suffice to handle people, as Kersten concluded.

Published [in Turkish] on Cihan, 18 December 2013, Wednesday

Source: Hizmet Movement , December 21, 2013

Tags: | | | |


Related News

Lawrence Seidman on Fethullah Gulen and Hizmet Movement

Rabbi Lawrence Seidman earned a Ph.D in Electrical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley. After retiring from the Boeing Company, he dedicated himself to religious and spiritual studies. Lawrence Siedman was ordained as a rabbi in 2009 by the Academy for Jewish Religion.

Turkish family kept at Kiev airport for days at Turkey’s request

A Turkish family that was reportedly detained by Ukrainian authorities on Thursday, have been kept in a room at Kiev Boryspil Airport for three days, waiting to be deported to Turkey, according to a video recording the family members posted on social media.

Is Hizmet being subjected to genocide?

Indeed, the word genocide brings to our minds mass killings and relocations of members of a race, usually under war-like conditions. Yet, genocide is not a war crime. It is not a type of crime committed against a specific race. Rather, it has wider connotations. This crime may be committed against a specific group, without massacring them and in a peaceful setting.

Gov’t attack on Bank Asya taints Turkey’s image

Attempts by the Turkish government to sink Bank Asya have tainted Turkey’s image, according to French-based Institute for Research on the International Economy expert Deniz Ünal, speaking to the Cihan news agency.

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.

US prosecutor denies any links to Gülen, says never set foot in Turkey

Responding to allegations from Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who accused US Attorney for the Southern District of New York Preet Bharara of being a sympathizer of the faith-based Gülen movement, Bharara said he has just learned Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen’s name from Google and has never been to Turkey.

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

Dismissed police officer dies of heart attack in German refugee camp

Turkish NGO in Cambodia Denies Links to Terror

Pakistan – Turkish teachers, students not to be deported, court told

Turkish IT Technician Found Dead While Fleeing To Greece

55-year-old leukemia patient says looking after grandchildren as daughter, son behind bars over Gülen links

‘Gulenists’ talk about finding a safe haven in Kosovo

Bad news for Erdoğan’s lawyers in the US

Copyright 2026 Hizmet News