Opinions
Is Former Chief of General Staff Özkök a Closet Gülenist
JOOST LAGENDIJK In Turkey, it is very easy to learn about all the different points of view. Columnists and editors from all newspapers and TV channels have come forward with their often very outspoken assessments. In Europe and the US it’s much harder for people to get a real good picture of the significance of […]
Teaching Peace in Schools
Alp Aslandogan, President, Alliance for Shared Values* This week New York City hosts the United Nations General Assembly, the Clinton Global Initiative and the Education Nation conference. These massive events focus on international diplomacy and peace, societal problem-solving and improving classroom instruction. However, just a few blocks away from these grand assemblies, a smaller group […]
Walking in the Shoes of Others: Stepping in and out of Turkey
Michael Anthony Samuel* In this article I choose to focus on how Turkish citizens influenced by the Hizmet philosophy underpinned by Fethullah Gülen choose to understand their journey into the world of others, outside the borders of the society in which they were born (Çetin, 2011). What drives these members of the Turkish community to […]
Can the West believe in Islamic progress?
This means the [Gulen] movement’s Islamic core is intertwined with an internalization of Western Weberian and Calvinist worldviews, highlighting the interconnectedness of religious principles and economic applications, believing, in the spirit of Capitalism, that socioeconomic prosperity is the most favorable way to bring about and reflect God’s pleasure.
AK Party, Hizmet movement and politics
İHSAN YILMAZ August 31, 2012 I have written repeatedly about the relationship between the Hizmet movement (aka Gulen movement) and politics here. Unfortunately, it still needs some more discussion. As is well known, Hizmet never associates itself with political parties. It is a volunteer movement that appeals to individuals from all sorts of social, cultural, […]
Hrant Topakiyan’s feelings about the Journalists and Writers Foundation
Hrant Topakiyan, Kentim Gazette, April 5, 2010 Journalists and Writers Foundation = Love For many years I have attended the love-filled Ramadan iftar dinners arranged by the Journalists and Writers Foundation. My Lord allowed me to meet very valuable people at these dinners. Since it is impossible to write all their names in this column, […]
Lies in the “Research” by Der Spiegel
MAHMUT ÇEBİ August 8, 2012 Fethullah Gülen has so far been designated with numerous titles: Islamist, pro-Christian, pro-sharia, pro-Vatican, pro-ummah, pro-Turan (Turkish ethnic nationalist), pro-American, pro-Israel, Calvinist, etc. Those who never listened to him or read his books have attacked him with as many defamations as they wished. But these decades-long groundless attacks have never […]
Der Spiegel’s recent strange attack on the Hizmet (Gulen) Movement
Ihsan Yilmaz August 9, 2012 Der Spiegel has published a piece about the Hizmet (Gülen) movement. Unfortunately, the piece does not look like a work of journalism. The wording, selection of so-called experts, and most importantly distortions, misleading points and false information make the piece very problematic. The piece starts with a claim that “Gülen […]
Introducing the Gulen Movement: Prophet’s Path in the Twenty-first Century
Muzaffar K. Awan, M.D. The Prophet’s path being practiced and demonstrated by Hizmet global movement is certainly one of the best ways to minimize and eliminate ignorance through worldwide education, to narrowing the gap between the rich and poor again through education and charitable works. The wealth of the earth will have to be eventually […]
Experiences with Hizmet and the Followers of Fethullah Gülen
Fr. Leo D. Lefebure* 03 July 2012, Tuesday The members of Hizmet have been unfailingly gracious and cordial, respectful of Christianity and mindful of the many values shared by Muslims and Christians. Their concern to build constructive relationships and to collaborate in building interreligious understanding is inspiring. Since the 1990s, I have been involved in […]
Kurdish problem, PKK, AKP, Hizmet movement
Ihsan YILMAZ July 4, 2012 The Kurdish problem in Turkey has many domestic and international dimensions. It is, of course, impossible to touch upon all of these in a column. Thus, I will look at only a few of these aspects. It is obvious that the Justice and Development Party (AKP) wants to solve the […]
Fethullah Gulen and His Movement: A Brief Introduction
KASHIF HASAN KHAN July 1, 2012 We often talk about revivalism in education system so as to change the direction of our young generation, who seems to have forgotten the very fundamentals. Undoubtedly, our leaders have played a vital role and contributed a lot to it, but we can’t live up to that forever; we […]
The Hizmet Community
Ahmet Turan Alkan 12 October 2010 It does not matter whether it is called a community or Hizmet: This movement has very powerful dynamics and despite the huge amount of doubts and reservations which are being sown about it, it has an “open” nature and it can be clearly and easily understood – as its […]
Abant Platform: perspectives on Turkey
Ihsan YILMAZ June 22, 2012 The Abant Platform, being an innovative institution, has now initiated a new discussion forum which, as far as I am aware, is a first in Turkey. We will be discussing different perspectives on Turkey together with non-Turkish academics, diplomats and journalists working in the country. For three days, we will […]
