Canadian singer Loreena McKennitt praises Fethullah Gülen’s work


Date posted: August 8, 2013

Loreena McKennitt, an internationally acclaimed Canadian singer, expressed her appreciation of Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen’s ideas on Wednesday at the Intercultural Dialogue Institute’s (IDI) Toronto Friendship Dinner.

In her remarks, she recalled Gülen’s call for love, compassion, forgiveness and celebration of diversity for which she affirmed her full support.

‘I personally relate to Mr. Gülen’s ideas and his whole views very much. I think he has identified some very critical points up from which we must consider taking on our lives. I think ones of love, compassion, forgiveness, celebration of diversity, to be able to look for mutual elements of commonality are the most important ones. I was very impressed about to hear his work and all the centers around the world that are supporting his work. I would love to support it by myself.’

McKennitt is a Canadian singer, composer, harpist and pianist most famous for writing, recording and performing world music with Celtic and Middle Eastern themes. McKennitt is known for her refined, warbling soprano vocals.

Gülen is a Turkish Islamic scholar well known for his teachings promoting mutual understanding and tolerance between cultures. He has pioneered educational activities in a number of countries, along with efforts to promote intercultural and interfaith activities around the world.

He has also written nearly 50 books in Turkish, some of which have been translated into several languages.

Source: Today's Zaman , 8 August 2013


Related News

Gülen among TIME magazine’s 100 most influential people

Turkish scholar Fethullah Gülen has made it onto Time magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people in the world. This is the 10th year the magazine has listed its 100 most influential people shaping the world. This year, the magazine put seven cover portraits of “TIME 100” honorees who it said reflect the “breadth […]

For first time, Fethullah Gülen curses purge of police officials in emotional speech

Fethullah Gülen has cursed those responsible for a purge of police officials involved in a corruption investigation. Turkish PM Tayyip Erdoğan has called the detention of scores of people seen as close to the government a “dirty operation” aimed at undermining his rule. Erdoğan has refrained from naming Gülen as the hand behind the investigation and he referred to an “illegal gang within the state” and systematically purged officials, including journalists in public broadcasters.

US says it does not consider Gülen movement a terror organization

The U.S. has stated that the country does not consider the movement of U.S.-based Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen a terror organization, a position which stands in contrast with the latest decision taken during a Turkish National Security Council (MGK) meeting on the movement.

German intelligence did not warn against Hizmet Movement

The BfV, which is in charge of domestic intelligence in Germany, acknowledged that it analyzed certain articles by Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen. According to the BfV, this analysis was based on their legal prerogative to check the compatibility of certain documents with the free and democratic constitutional order.

GYV says arrest warrant for Gülen motivated by upcoming election

The Journalists and Writers Foundation’s (GYV), of which Fethullah Gülen is the honorary president, issued a statement on Wednesday slamming the government-orchestrated arrest warrant for Gülen as a government election tactic.

‘If you are against us, you are the other’

Turkey has been witnessing a rigorous debate for the last couple of weeks over the ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) vow to finish off the test prep schools, which are a source of both money and influence for its old ally, the Hizmet Movement led by the self-exiled leader, Fethullah Gülen. Like many controversies in Turkey, the issue of closing the courses and integrating them into Turkey’s poorly-established and -organized education system was not only about the prep schools, which was only the tip of the iceberg.

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

Corruption or spies?

40 CSOs in US slam hate speech being used by gov’t officials

First International Science Projects Olympiads of Indonesia organized by the Turkish schools

Art exhibition tells story of deficiency

Turkey’s Witch-Hunt Against the Gülen Movement Should Stop

Why is Erdoğan hostile to Turkish schools?

Mass firings in Turkey: ‘We have been given a social death sentence’

Copyright 2026 Hizmet News