May 18, 2011

Turkish Scholar Fethullah Gulen Honored with "Peacebuilding Award"

Ebru News

Hundreds gathered in New York City this week - for the 30th anniversary of the East/West Insitute. The Global organization works to create dialogue between different cultures. And this year -- the group honored Turkish scholar Fethullah Gulen with a prestigious award.

CHP deputy candidate voices support for Ergenekon trial

Hüseyin Keleş

Journalist Aydın Ayaydın, a candidate for deputy from the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), has declared support for the ongoing trial of Ergenekon, a clandestine criminal network accused of working to overthrow the government, saying criminals should be called to account regardless of their titles or positions.

“There are gangs and mafias within Ergenekon. I find the [Ergenekon] trial right. I see many people [on trial] whom I believe are guilty. … No matter what their titles or positions are, a man should be called to account and punished if he committed a crime,” the candidate told Today’s Zaman.

Writer Aytav says ‘Ali should throw the ball to Hagop' before it's too late

Yonca Poyraz Doğan

A writer who has questioned how being “the other” is and what it means in Turkey in his recent book has told Today's Zaman for Monday Talk that the society has been victimized by the republican state ideology that idealized a “Muslim Hanefi secular Turk,” but that this doesn't have to be that way forever.

“Hrant Dink had formulated that very well: Ali should throw the ball to Hagop. It's time; indeed, the time is past. We should say enough is enough. Ali has been playing ball only with other Ali's; but when he starts to play with Hagop, there will be a better game because there will be a better team. We will solve the problem when we realize this,” said Erkam Tufan Aytav, who wrote the book “Being Other in Turkey” (“Türkiye'de Öteki Olmak”) based on his interviews with eight people who are members of Turkey's different communities that have been singled out as “others” for a long time.