News
Love is A Verb – forthcoming documentary on the Gülen Movement
Love Is A Verb is an examination of a social movement of Sufi-inspired Sunni Muslims that began in Turkey in the l960s and now spans across the globe. The group is called Hizmet, the Turkish word for “service” or The Gülen Movement after its inspiration and teacher, Fethullah Gülen, a man TIME magazine named as one of the most influential leaders in the world in 2013 for “…preaching a message of tolerance.”
Fethullah Gülen’s Eid message: Let’s pray for each other
Turkish American community paid visit to Fethullah Gülen to greet him for the Eid al Adha, which is a major Islamic festival. Following the supplication, Gülen talked to his guest briefly and said: “Let’s pray for each other with deep iman (belief), ma’rifa (Spiritual Knowledge of God), and mahabba (love); let’s include all humanity in our prayers, starting from the people in closest circles; let’s be inclusive and embracing in our prayers.”
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.
Turkish charities ready to deliver aid during Eid al-Adha
Various Turkish charity organizations have wrapped up their preparations to deliver aid, including sacrificial meat and other forms of assistance, to people in need across Turkey and around the world during Eid al-Adha, an Islamic holiday celebrated by millions around the globe. Turkish charities are especially busy during the Eid al-Adha season, collecting money and sacrificing animals, packaging the meat and distributing it to the less fortunate.
Multilingual singer Julie Slim breathes life into songs
“Music is transformational; it can transform you. It is a way of expression, it connects people, it can be a teaching and therapy tool, it makes people feel things they had not felt before,” Slim told Sunday’s Zaman in an exclusive interview ahead of her performance at Fatih University Conservatory’s Turkish music department.
Kimse Yok Mu to stop beggary in Sakarya, Turkey
Kimse Yok Mu (KYM) has recently initiated a project, “a card of hope,” in the city of Sakarya, Turkey. The project aims to stop beggary in the city. Volunteers of KYM would distribute “a card of hope” to every beggar in the city, which would contain information and directions on how to receive aid from local Kimse Yok Mu branch.
GYV’s Istanbul Summit and Peace Projects presented in New York
A reception was held by the Journalists and Writers Foundation (GYV) on September 30, 2013 in New York to promote its two international projects, Istanbul Summit and Peace Projects. Numerous representatives to the United Nations (UN) who came to New York to attend the 68th UN General Assembly meeting as well as journalists, academics and foreign diplomats were hosted at the GYV office on the 5th Avenue.
Turkish Physicians heal Somali sufferers
The civil war-stricken Somalia receives yet another helping hand extending from Turkey’s Kutahya province. A volunteer group of medical specialists recently went to the troubled African country to provide medical assistance particularly to pediatric patients. Kutahya Chamber of Pharmacists Chair, Mehmet Hakan Akcan, reported that, with a team of seven medical specialists and several professionals, they had been to Somalian capital Mogadishu in order to provide medical assistance to the locals in need.
Medialog debates new media challenges at İstanbul conference
The Medialog Platform, which operates under the umbrella of the Journalists and Writers Foundation (GYV), brought together communication academics and media experts to discuss new challenges that the media is facing in the digital age, at the International Communication Faculties Conference in İstanbul on Friday.
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.
Ethio-Turkish Schools receive “Certificate of Appreciation’ from African Union
The Turkish schools in Ethiopia continue to gain recognition with their contributions to science and education. African Union Political Affairs Department has honored Nejashi Ethio-Turkish Schools in Ethiopia with a certificate of appreciation in recognition of their contribution to mutual understanding and peace in Africa.
Lawyer rejects alleged Gülen remarks published by leftist daily
The lawyer of Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen has denied alleged remarks made by his client against the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) that were published by a leftist daily on Oct. 9. The leftist Birgün daily published the transcript of an alleged audio recording, which the newspaper claims belongs to Gülen and which was first released by a hacker group, Roj Hack, on the Internet.
Chinese delight in Turkish Culture and Food Festival
The Turquoise Turkish Culture and Food Festival kicked off in Shanghai on Sunday as part of 2013 Year of Turkish Culture activities, providing Chinese people with the opportunity to find out more about Turkey. The first day of the event, held at the Shanghai Mart, saw a large attendance comprising both locals and Turks living in China
Two additional Turkish schools to open in Casablanca
Two additional Turkish schools, one of which will provide education in English in Morocco for the very first time, will be set up in Casablanca, Morocco Turkish Schools General Director İbrahim Aktaş announced on Tuesday. The first Turkish school on the African continent was opened in Morocco in the city of Tangiers in 1994. Other schools were subsequently opened in 52 African countries.
