Why do a minority fear Hizmet [Gulen Movement]?

Martin Taylor

Fethullah Gulen

Before addressing the above question it’s important to first put things in perspective. The Hizmet movement (a transnational faith inspired human centric movement inspired by the Turkish Islamic scholar and peace activist Fethullah Gülen) enjoys huge support and sympathy among the Turkish people in mainland Turkey and among communities around the world where it operates. It could not otherwise deliver the services that it does – a thousand schools; even more dialogue organisations; clinics; media outlets; humanitarian aid and other charitable NGOs – in over a 130 countries around the world. Operations on this scale require a massive amount of human and financial resources, inconceivable without the sustained commitment of its participants and the support of sympathisers. Empirical research tells us that participants in Hizmet donate between 5 and 25 per cent of their annual income as well as a considerable amount of their time and know-how to Hizmet services. Others have suggested that 84 percent of Turks have a favourable opinion of Fethullah Gülen and the the movement he inspires. Both the sheer size, scale and variety of the movement’s activities and empirical research into its resource mobility prove that Fethullah Gülen and the Gulen movement enjoys the support and sympathy of the majority of the Turkish people.

Strategic Defamation of Fethullah Gulen: English vs. Turkish (*)

Doğan Koç

Fethullah Gulen

Fethullah Gulen is a moderate Turkish Muslim scholar who is mostly known for his education and dialogue activities. Gulen Movement, named after him, has established hundreds of education and dialogue institutions throughout the world. Several books, hundreds of articles and news reports have been written about Gulen himself and the Movement.

The Gülen Movement and Islam

Enes Ergene

Fethullah Gulen

It is important for me to underline that the Gülen movement is not an ideologically driven organization. Fethullah Gülen is against the use of religion as a political ideology. It would be wrong to perceive the Gülen movement as akin to political Islamism.

Chandra: Improving relations to bring more Indian tourists to Turkey

Şaban Gündüz

Charge d’affaires at the Indian Embassy in Ankara AVS Ramesh Chandra has said more Indian tourists will come to visit Turkey as relations between the two nations grow stronger, with Indian visitors expected to increase from last year’s 63,000 to 90,000 this year.

Azerbaijani representatives scoop 21 medals in 9th International Turkish Language Olympiads

Today.Az

Azerbaijani students have gained seven gold, ten silver and four bronze medals in the 9th International Turkish Language Olympiads.

ROK Turkish Olympiad winner gives medal to Korean War veteran

Today's Zaman

Turkish Olympiad winner Nyeon Kwon of South Korea has given her medal and award worth TL 1,500 to a Turkish veteran of the Korean War, in a unique demonstration of loyalty, according to a Bugün report published on Sunday.

Another successful Turkish Olympiads ends on a high note

Esra Maden

For 15 days, 1,000 children from 130 countries across the world came to Turkey as part of the Turkish Olympiads. They made appearances in 24 provinces from East to West, where the students mixed with each other and local people in the places they visited.

Fethullah Gulen’s Approach to Eliminate the Identity Crisis among Muslims

Nazila Isgandarov*

The views of Fethullah Gülen, a prominent spiritual and religious leader of moderate Muslims, have been helping Muslims in the West to integrate into their societies.
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Since Gülen strives for political, economic, and cultural success of Muslims in the world, their identity struggle in the West is not alien to him and he offers some solutions to the identity crisis in the West. According to Fethullah Gülen, modern Western identity** was once based on the trinity of Greek thought, Roman law and Christianity and Eastern identity is based on faith and morality (Gülen, 2004f, p.148), and the Western identity should be enhanced with Eastern faith and morality (Gülen, 2005c. p. 56).

Journalists and Writers Foundation bridging Eastern, Western worlds

Alyson Neel

Nestled behind a grove of trees in Altunizade sits the Journalists and Writers Foundation (GYV), which works to span the Eastern and Western worlds much like the Bosporus Bridge.

“Turkey is in the unique geographical position of being located between the Eastern and the Western worlds,” said GYV President Mustafa Yeşil, adding: “It literally is a bridge between the cultures and religions of the East and the West. We [GYV] have played a major part in building and maintaining that bridge.”