Dialogue instead of clash of civilizations: the contributions of the Australian Intercultural Society (2)

Çemen Polat

For the 10th anniversary celebrations at the Hotel Windsor, the Australian Intercultural Society (AIS) was privileged to have the contribution of an international Muslim scholar and author, Abdullah Aymaz, in the program.

As a person who has seen the fruits of dialogue and has been encouraging dialogue since 1995, Mr. Aymaz believes that we can solve common human problems and initiate many wonderful projects for humanity by putting our differences aside, and with mutual respect come together around universal human values and ethics.

Dialogue instead of clash of civilizations: the contributions of the Australian Intercultural Society(1)

Çemen Polat

Samuel Huntington’s theory of a “clash of civilizations,” a term initially proposed by Bernard Lewis, has been refuted by a large number of scholars on the international level -- particularly after the events of Sept. 11, which distorted the image of Islam.

Huntington’s theory concludes that Islam shares mutual detestation with other civilizations, particularly with the Western world, identifying the “bloody borders” between Muslims and non-Muslims. In response to this theory, scholarly works, seminars, conferences and educational awareness programs at all levels have been organized to attempt to eliminate or minimize inimical stereotypes, prejudices and iniquitous phobias proposed by some lobby groups, parties and individuals around the globe.

Fethullah Gulen awarded honorary doctorate by Leeds Metropolitan University

Today's Zaman

Fethullah Gülen, a Turkish Muslim scholar, educator and peace activist, has been awarded an honorary doctorate of education by Leeds Metropolitan University for his contribution to education, peace making and intercultural dialogue.

Özcan Keleş, executive director of the London-based Dialogue Society charity, accepted the honorary doctorate on Thursday on behalf of Gülen at the university’s summer graduation convocation. “Fethullah Gülen considers this award as recognition of the work and efforts of what is known among academic circles as the Gülen movement or what Gülen himself prefers to call a movement of volunteers,” Keleş said.

Plan to discredit civilian probe into colonel’s plot runs like clockwork

Betül Akkaya Demirbaş

It has been one year since the exposure of a suspected military plan to undermine the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and the faith-based Gülen movement, which was hoped would lead to a coup d’état, and Turkey has witnessed many attempts -- not only from the military but also from the media and the judiciary -- to discredit an ongoing civilian probe into the plan.

On June 11, 2009, the liberal Taraf daily printed documents seized in the office of Serdar Öztürk, the lawyer of a retired colonel arrested last year on charges of membership in Ergenekon, a clandestine criminal organization charged with plotting to overthrow the government.