Fethullah Gulen says his call for ‘yes’ vote not linked to political motives

Today's Zaman

Fethullah Gulen

Turkish intellectual and scholar Fethullah Gülen, who recently said that the constitutional reform package to be presented to a public vote on Sept. 12 has amendments critical for the future of Turkey and had encouraged the public to vote “yes” in the referendum, has stated that his call is not related to any political party.

"We are willing to support anyone who takes steps to carry this country forward, and we will be the paving stones under their feet. We are at an equal distance to everyone. We would lend support to both [former Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader] Deniz [Baykal] Bey and [Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader] Devlet [Bahçeli] Bey if what they do means something for today and tomorrow for our nation in taking it to a position of leadership among world states,” Gülen said in his latest weekly speech broadcast on website Herkul.org.

Success and Recognition of Turkish schools in Australia

Çemen Polat

[Advancing in Education in an Advanced Democracy]

Australia’s education system is considered to have some of the highest standards in the world and enjoys international recognition.

Over the past decades, Australia has emerged as one of the top five providers of international education services, after the US, the UK, Germany and France. Hence, Australia is widely renowned as being among the world leaders in the field of education, and each year the country attracts more than 450,000 students from about 200 countries. Education is Australia’s second largest services export sector, behind tourism, and became the third largest export overall, contributing $17.2 billion in export income to the economy in 2008-09, an increase of 23.2 percent from the previous financial year. While Australia is well regarded for providing high-quality education, attracting thousands of students from around the world, being able to develop a large-scale, internationally competitive education industry and having a comparative advantage in the English language, it has also been a destination for Turkish schools inspired by the philosophy of contemporary Turkish scholar, thinker, author, poet, educational activist and opinion leader Fethullah Gülen. Gülen-inspired schools in both their country of origin, Turkey, and abroad, particularly in Central Asia, the Balkans and African countries have attracted scholars’ attention from Western countries due to their continuous academic accomplishments, instructing subjects in English and emphasis on universal ethical values. These schools have delivered vastly elevated rates of student retention, graduation and matriculation in comparison to the state level of each of the countries in which they have been established.

Gulen Movement: An Alternative to Fundamentalism

Matthias Daum

An interview with Helen Rose Ebaugh on the Gülen Movement:

Helen Rose Ebaugh, an American professor specializing in the sociology of religion, sees the movement founded by the controversial Turkish preacher Fethullah Gülen as both an opportunity for the West and a serious alternative to religious extremism. Matthias Daum asked for more details.

‘Gülen movement offers real alternative to clashes and conflict in society’

Can Bahadır Yüce

The Gülen movement has long been a part of Turkey’s social landscape. But in recent years interest in the movement has gone far beyond Turkey’s borders of the country, with discussions of Fethullah Gülen and his ideas in forums and platforms including the Arab League, the Russian Parliament, the European Parliament and the British House of Lords.

There have been many attempts to define this civil initiative started by Gülen, a Turkish Islamic scholar well known for his teachings promoting mutual understanding and tolerance between cultures. In his recent book, titled “100 Soruda Fethullah Gülen ve Hareketi” (Fethullah Gülen and His Movement in 100 Questions), Professor Doğu Ergil, a distinguished political scientist, defines the movement as the only civil society organization that can represent Turkey’s impact, culture and human relations to the outside world comprehensively and effectively. Rice University Professor Jill Carroll, the author of the book “A Dialogue of Civilizations: Gülen’s Islamic Ideals and Humanistic Discourse,” says the movement is open to innovation and represents a chance for humanity.