The Queens Turkish Cultural Center, organized the 10th annual Ramadan Tent to serve free food at the time of iftar
Olsan Turan, Turkish Cultural Center, Queens: “Just we would like to share our traditions. Each day we’re expecting more than 1,000 people.”
A cleric from the local community gave a heartfelt message to the invitees.
The hosts opened the event to followers of all faiths, including Jews, Hindus and Christians.
Sufi music, authentic Turkish food and good company. The guests couldn’t ask for more.
Olsan Turan, Turkish Cultural Center, Queens: “And it just opened my heart, just completely. I can’t be thankful enough. It was wonderful.”
Over the past decade, the center has committed its resources to strengthening ties in the community. Residents in Queens told me they’re pleased to come to an event where they enjoyed a delicious dinner and made new friends.
This inclusion of the Armenian and Jewish cultures in the “Anatolian” concept is worth pondering, for it tells something about the cultural codes of some of the makers of “New Turkey” and how they differ from the codes of “old” (i.e., Kemalist) Turkey.
Only educational efforts of groups such as Hizmet can eradicate extremism
In sharp contrast to Boko Haram, there is a faith-inspired group, a civil society movement that engages in education, dialogue and charitable activities and has grown out of Muslim grass roots. Check out how disturbed Boko Haram is about Hizmet’s education campaign, which offers opportunities for both boys and girls. Check out how ISIL publications outline exactly how they hate the Hizmet movement’s efforts and why they see Hizmet as their “enemies.”
Gülen not only my hero, also a model for other religions
“He is not only my hero for what he has done for the Muslim societies but also [offers] a model for all other religions,” said Dirk Ficca, executive director of the Chicago-based Council for a Parliament of the World’s Religions.
Turkish groups call for global peace at historic İstanbul meeting
Inspired by esteemed Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, Turkish activists have established intercultural and interfaith organizations in more than 100 countries all around the world. The primary objective of these organizations is to encourage tolerance and build bridges across different ethnic and religious groups.
Islam, terrorism and the media
We unfortunately live in an unfair world. Injustice is so ubiquitous that we can categorize it based on our neighborhood, our city, our region, our country and the world. Any kind of injustice, discrimination or otherization — such as social injustice, class injustice, inequity in income distribution and a lack of equal opportunities in education, business and social mobility — may rear its ugly head at any moment in our daily life. Not only the cases of social injustice we encounter in our daily life, but also the sentiments of rage and revolt stemming from national or international injustice may trigger reactions that are against the nature of people who normally have psychological integrity.
The Gülen Movement and Turkish Soft Power*
The Gülen approach to education aptly demonstrates the group’s global strategy—Gülen movement schools are open to both Turkish migrants and citizens of host countries, and they avoid advancing a religious agenda. These schools aim to help Turkish migrants succeed in their host societies without losing sight of their Turkish roots, and at the same time they promote social unity by serving the needs of migrants and local students alike. The success of Gülen movement schools stems both from the success of the students (and the satisfaction of the parents) and from the prestige and goodwill they enjoy among local and political authorities for promoting integration and acting as a social mediator.
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