
No matter how many times I say, “Nothing worse or more unbelievable could happen,” Turkey never stops surprising me. Of course, as many agree, the unpredictable nature of things in Turkey makes this country a gold mine for journalists and researchers, but it’s exhausting at the same time. On Tuesday, the Journalists and Writers Foundation’s […]

The Journalists and Writers Foundation’s (JWF) response to allegations against Hizmet Movement. In recent days there has been a growing campaign of defamation and misinformation against the Hizmet Movement; this campaign has been directed particularly through social media. Despite the maxim that “the one who makes allegations bears the burden of proof”, it seems that […]

The Peace Islands Institute (PII) is ten years old now. Its 10th Anniversary and 6th Annual Award Ceremony was held on June 2, 2013. Over 200 guests and many dignitaries joined the PII to applaud the accomplishments of the honorees and to celebrate PII’s 10th anniversary. The honorees and guests all applauded the PII for becoming an agent of dialogue, love and peace-building within a short span of time.

Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç has commented for the first time on allegations that there are tensions between the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government and the Hizmet movement, saying, “We don’t need to get into a verbal row that might hurt relations between the government and the movement; we don’t need it, it would hurt us.” He also said Erdoğan holds Gülen in esteem.

The Journalists and Writers Foundation (GYV) has responded to a series of controversial claims and slanderous accusations made about the Hizmet movement which the foundation said are designed to pit the government against the movement and create tension between the two. Releasing a statement on Tuesday, the foundation felt an obligation to respond to the allegations as a sign of respect for the public’s right to be informed.

Rabbi Rachel Kahn-Troster, Rabbis for Human Rights: “We have to understand that we have common issues in our communities that we can work together to improve our schools, we can work together for immigration reform and that these are issues of shared concern that are things we feel passionately about.” Rabbi Rachel Kahn-Troster believes that […]

Volunteer Turkish doctors conducted cataract surgery on more than 13,000 patients in Sudan and Somalia. Doctors from all over Turkey volunteered in South Darfur’s capital. A similar campaign is being maintained permanently by volunteer Turkish doctors in various regions of the African continent. One doctor recounted: “There was one family in which everyone was blind: the father, the mother and the kids. Their sight was returned to all of them.

Well-respected Turkish intellectual and scholar Fethullah Gülen was awarded the Manhae Peace Prize for his contributions to world peace at a ceremony held in South Korea on Sunday. Among the prominent recipients of the Manhae awards since they were first presented in 1997 are former South African President Nelson Mandela, exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama and Iranian rights advocate Shirin Ebadi.

the Third International Family Conference will be held in November 2014 in Istanbul, Turkey. The theme of the conference will be “Family Policies”. the aim of the conference is an in-depth study of all sorts of legal arrangements, administrative decisions and practices laid down by the national and international public organizations and institutions, in order to strengthen the protection of the family as an institution.

Ugandan Foreign Affairs Minister Asuman Kiyingi said Turkish schools have paved the way for Turkey to reach out to Africa. “I would like to note that especially the Turkish schools underpin the outreach,” he said. The minister Kiyingi shared that they regard the local Turkish schools as the most significant investments Turkey has made in Uganda and that they offer an admirable service in moral education besides their academic achievements.

Fethullah Gulen celebrated eid al fitr with the Turkish American community members. He listened to the sermon after the Eid Prayer with tears in his eyes. After the sermon, he exchanged eid greetings with his guests. Osman Şimşek said in the sermon, “Although we are full of joy for our holiday and are thankful to God-All Merciful, we also feel grief and sorrow because of the horrid situation, which parts of the Islamic world are currently in.”

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 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.’

By Muzaffar K Awan, M.D. Grand Rapids Michigan USA The Muslim civilization was developed historically (spanning from 7th through the 17th centuries) dominating the world close to a millennium. It had transformed the world particularly during its golden age (8th to the 12th centuries); had become universal, supremely successful in all human endeavors, education, democratic […]

Chief Minister of Punjab province of Pakistan, Shahbaz Sharif: “I pray that relations between Turkey and Pakistan benefit both countries.” Kimse Yok Mu Foundation (KYM) delivered Turkey’s donations to the earthquake and flood-ridden Punjab province of Pakistan. According to KYM press release, chief minister of Punjab province of Pakistan, Shahbaz Sharif, received the foundation officials […]