German Muslims want Participation, not Integration

Claudia Mende

While German politicians continue to argue whether Islam is part of Germany or not, German Muslims have for quite some time been making a contribution in many social spheres. But many institutions in Germany are still at the beginning of a process of intercultural opening. Claudia Mende reports.

Is CHP giving green light to Hizmet?

Mahmut Övür, Sabah

I went to Stockholm to attend the Anatolian Culture Festival and preliminary rounds of the Turkish Olympiad competition. I also visited a Turkish school [established by the Hizmet movement, the followers of Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen] in Stockholm with Adnan Keskin from the Republican People’s Party (CHP).

Ali Şen: Match-fixing not Hizmet movement operation

Today's Zaman

Former Fenerbahçe Chairman Ali Şen has said a massive match-fixing investigation has no connection to the Hizmet movement, inspired by well-respected Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen.

Wrestling with Free Speech, Religious Freedom, and Democracy in Turkey: The Political Trials and Times of Fethullah Gulen

K. Adamson

Review of James C. Harrington’s Wrestling with Free Speech, Religious Freedom, and Democracy in Turkey: The Political Trials and Times of Fethullah Gulen. 2011. Lanham, MD: University Press of America, 185pp. ISBN 978 0 7618 5461 6.

Turkish schools in Kyrgyzstan mark 20th year anniversary

The Kyrgyz children danced and sang. They wore traditional clothes and got in touch with their Turkic roots. In the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek at the newly opened Bishkek Opera and Ballet Theatre joint Kyrgyz and Turkish schools held a 20 year anniversary celebration to mark their opening.

Good news from Prophet’s Way

Hüseyin Gülerce

Last weekend an international symposium organized by the Yeni Ümit and Hira magazines and attended by scholars from 60 countries was held in Gaziantep. Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdağ and Religious Affairs Directorate President Mehmet Görmez attended the symposium, titled “Solutions to social problems from the Path of the Prophet [Muhammad].” There was great interest in the meeting and guests from foreign countries were very impressed by this interest. The meeting, which was broadcast live on Mehtap TV, saw an alternative call rising from Gaziantep.

Religious scholars: Path of Prophet offers solutions to social ills

İlkay Göçmen, Nurullah Kaya

Amid the increasing social and political problems faced by Muslim societies in a modern world, religious scholars from 60 countries called on Muslims to revisit the Prophet Muhammad's handling of social issues, at a symposium titled “Solutions to social problems from the Path of the Prophet [Muhammad],” held by Yeni Ümit and Hira magazine over the weekend in the southern province of Gaziantep.

Social and Philosophical Aspects of the Teaching of Gulen: The Look of Belarusian Intellectuals

Dialogue Eurasia Platform organized one more event in order to establish understanding between peoples, to eliminate mutual prejudices, to help people to get to know each other better and to establish bridges of dialogue. More than 200 academicians, journalists, writers gathered in Crowne Plaza hotel in order to take part in the presentation of a book, published by “Belorusskaya nauka,” the publishing house of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus.

Craze rules

Ekrem Dumanlı

The dark propaganda is in full bloom. For instance, there are some unfounded lies which some groups try to make people believe in through repetition. Thus, a false claim is voiced so many times that even sane people become ready to believe in it. For instance, since the start of the probe into match-rigging claims, a small group of people who were trying to influence the club put the blame on Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the "Community," also known as the Gülen Movement, inspired by ideas of Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen. Recently, they shifted their focus to only the "Community" and started to voice the propaganda, "The Community is trying to seize Fenerbahçe," in an effort to influence Fenerbahçe fans. This is a claim that true Fenerbahçe fans -- and everyone who is interested in soccer -- would laugh away. Indeed, soccer clubs by their nature are able to bring together people from all social groups. This is a completely absurd and irrational argument for those who understand the “Community.” Why?

Gülen becomes litmus test for American media, too

Mehmet Kalyoncu *

A shade as tiny as a fly's wing that covers one's pupil enables the trickster to move, or steal for that matter, items as gigantic as mountains before the very eyes of that person without him or her even noticing. Such a trick, so long as it goes unnoticed, can serve as a source of great power and influence for anyone or any entity, be it an ordinary individual, cunning politician or formidable newspaper.

NY Times, Gülen and the prime minister

Rasim Ozan Kütahyalı, Takvim

Articles published last week in The New York Times and the International Herald Tribune served the purpose of manipulating people’s perceptions about the current government of Turkey and the Hizmet [Gülen] movement.

The Gulen schools are signposts to a silent transformation in Turkey

Atul Aneja

In the enclosed greens of a football ground at Istanbul’s Fatih University, a heated contest is underway. Young men from Kyrgyzstan, dressed in red, are feverishly locking horns with a team from Azerbaijan, attired in blue and white clothing.

Turkey will influence developments in Muslim world - American academician

Nawab Khan, Brussels

Turkey is a good example to be followed by the Arab and Muslim world for the development of democracy and economic progress, according to James Harrington, Director of the Texas Civil Rights Project and a professor at the University of Texas Law School.

"I think Turkey is a good example and can serve as a model and will influence developments in the Muslim world," Harrington told the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA).

What is behind Hizmet-affiliated schools?

Taha Akyol, Hurriyet

What is behind the schools affiliated with the Hizmet [Gülen] movement that have been established around the world?

Turkish schools in Africa

Taha Akyol, Hurriyet

The Central African Republic is one of the poorest countries in the world. There is not even proper electricity in the capital city of the country, Bangui. The roads were terrible, but we arrived at a guesthouse of the International Central African Republic Turkish School at midnight.

Photo: Hurriyet Daily

It was established on the initiative of supporters of Fethullah Gülen. When we went to the school, we were amazed to see such a well-established school in such a country. There were 45 students when it was opened in 2006 and now it has 750 students. Half of the teachers are Turkish, half are locals. A fee is required, but there is financial support for the poor. At the teachers’ call, volunteer doctors came to the city, where they treated sick locals and performed operations. Meat, sent by Muslim benefactors from Turkey, is regularly distributed to local people. Both the government and locals are extremely grateful. This can be explained only by the religiousness of people with missionary aims and the combination of financial entrepreneurship and modern education.

Published on Today's Zaman, 02 May 2012, Wednesday