ERHAN BAŞYURT, BUGÜN
A letter sent to President Abdullah Gül by Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen left its mark over the weekend. The original version of the letter has been published.
Fehmi Koru, who delivered the letter to Gül, spoke about the process. According to Koru, who wrote for the Zaman daily for many years, he initially had a meeting with the president, whom he has known personally for a long time, and then met with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Later, he went to Pennsylvania — where Gülen is living — on Dec. 21 with the president’s knowledge. He met with Gülen there. He told the scholar about the thoughts and feelings of the top Turkish statesmen about recent developments. Gülen told Koru about his feelings. In response, Koru told Gülen to express his feelings in a letter. The scholar wrote this letter on Dec. 22. Koru took the letter to its addressee, the president. He met with the prime minister the same day in Ankara and told him about his impressions from his contact with Gülen. I mean to say, there is not “bargaining” or “mediation.” There is only a “goodwill initiative” here.
University preparatory courses and the Hizmet movement in Turkey
Most (university) preparatory courses (in Turkey) are run by the Hizmet movement, and it is very clear that the government’s steps to close down such courses, an action against the movement, will negatively affect a great number of people. Many analysts said it is impossible for the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), which does not have a good relationship with the Hizmet movement, to close down preparatory courses in the run-up to the pre-election period.
Turkish President calls for calm as gov’t defuses tension with Gülen movement
In a bid to de-escalate a heated debate between the government and Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen’s movement surrounding the future of private prep-schools, known as “dershanes,” President Abdullah Gül has called for attention to be focused instead on “more essential issues.” “Development in scientific fields is permanent. The others are daily discussions, today there are […]
What else should Gülen say?
Fethullah Gülen’s stance on corruption and anti-democratic practices has never changed. Osman Şimşek, the editor of herkul.org, which broadcasts and publishes Gülen’s speeches, recently published a letter that Gülen sent to Erdoğan in May 2006. In the letter, Gülen warns the prime minister that his government had begun to deviate from its democratic line.
Turkey’s Unethical Interference in American (Muslim) Civic Society is Dangerous
The Erdogan government jails its citizens without due process, severely curtails freedom of speech by jailing journalists, and ignores the plight of vulnerable minorities. They are the least credible messengers to warn Americans about their civic duty. The Turkish Consulate’s attempt to use McCarthyite tactics to spread fear and unduly influence American civic life is simply abhorrent and deserves condemnation.
Ramadan Tent Dinner brings a flavor of the East to Bethlehem
The 10th annual Intercultural Dialogue and FriendshipRamadan Dinner celebrated the ninth month of the lunar Islamic calendar on Wednesday and Thursday nights in Bethlehem. The event was free and open to the public. Other organizers and sponsors of the event were Peace Islands Institute, Turkish Cultural Center Pennsylvania and the City of Bethlehem.
Young environmentalists awarded at 22nd INEPO
Young environmentalists from different corners of the world who attended the 22nd International Environmental Project Olympiad (INEPO) to find solutions to environmental problems and thus make the world a better place to live have been awarded gold, silver and bronze medals.
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