February 1, 2012

Fethullah Gülen: Even democracy needs a metaphysical dimension

Rainer Hermann

Western World is disputing with Islam. Muslims also have some responsibility for this attitude: the Taliban is practicing the 'stoning sentence' and burning the schools for girls; al-Qaida claims Islam as a support for terrorism. On the other hand, like in Christianity, there are different interpretations in Islam but the West carelessly speaks about a single Islam. This problem will not be resolved until Muslims resolve their own issues and West meets with the different interpretations of Islam that has developed around the world.

One of such interpretations is the Turkish Islam. No other country with Muslim population embraced secularism as one of the fundamental principles of the state. Unlike Egypt and Algeria, Islam always remained a peaceful faith in Turkey. Turkey is Fethullah Gulen's country. Gulen, who is called 'Hodja Efendi' by his sympathizers, is an inspiration for people in Turkey and abroad. Gulen Movement is an apolitical, social movement.