Referred as ‘a movement whose examples are from within’, Hizmet is an organism carefully monitored at home and around the world due to its activities since its outset. Therefore, its sympathizers have been addressed various questions about Hizmet and Fethullah Gulen. As Hizmet hold an open and transparent nature it wouldn’t mind being asked an ever- increasing number of questions. However, personal answers may fall short to satisfy people’s curiosity. Subjectivity of personal interpretations may also hinder the movement. As a result, Journalists and Writers Foundation having Fethullah Gulen as its honorary president launched a website www.hizmetesorulanlar.org where the questions addressed to Hizmet are meticulously discussed and answered by the foundation. To learn more about the online platform anticipated to be visited by many, we had an interview with JWF President Mustafa Yesil. Yesil shared the motive behind the initiative and their experiences throughout its founding process.
The website aims to remove question marks concerning Hizmet’s structure and operation in addition to Fethullah Gulen’s perspectives on Turkey and the world. According to Yesil, to fully grasp the motive for the website Hizmet’s past has to be referred to. “Hizmet, whose foundations were laid when Gulen was appointed to Izmir as chief sermon, drew the attention of the state even then as it was operating by a unique system that its contemporaries lacked. Besides, its activities went beyond the mosques flooding into the streets and ultimately transcended Izmir’s borders. It grew as it dragged masses along and introduced educational activities impacting years ahead thanks to its volunteers. The President said, “All these alone were enough to attract people and raise curiosity. However, the movement actually captured the headlines when it expanded overseas in 1990s. It has been the center of national and global attention since then. Those curious to know or having concerns and fears emerged and, naturally, questions on Hizmet have been raised actually since then.”
Turkish Olympiads Arouse Curiosity
1990 onwards also coincided with the period when Turkey was in a political turmoil and the state kept a wary eye on anything with religious foundations. The media therefore turned its full attention to Hizmet known for its religious sensitivity on the foreground. Suspicions over Hizmet came on the scene during those years. If we look back on those years, we can easily visualize the smear campaigns carried out against Hizmet. As Yesil says, “These campaigns led the outsiders to hold a negative view of Hizmet and thus questions such as ‘How did Hizmet originate?’, ‘Who is Fethullah Gulen and with whose funding could he establish schools abroad?’ came along.”
An outcome of the movement’s globalization, Turkish Olympiads also came to play a role attracting the attention towards Hizmet and adding more to the question marks. The fact that hundreds of students from the movement’s schools abroad come to Turkey and demonstrate their performances in Turkish built up on the interest and curiosity. Following the olympiads, sympathizers strengthened their love and commitment as they saw the fruits of their labor. Those with concerns, on the other hand, became inquisitive to learn more while the others defining themselves as “against” became increasingly uneasy with the scene. As expected, the movement’s followers started to face questions on the ‘cemaat’ (community) and Gulen more often. Upon Gulen’s departure for the US for medical reasons new questions were introduced too: “Why is Gulen in the US?”, “Why doesn’t he return?” “Where and on what is he living?”etc.
In conclusion, the historical experiences of the movement mobilized Journalists and Writers Foundation to take an action. Mustafa Yesil said, “We were repeatedly addressed the same questions as every follower faced. We tried to answer each meticulously but, later, came to the conclusion that it was not possible to reach out and enlighten everyone this way. ‘Then why not a Q-and-A system available to everyone?’ we said. This is how “hizmetesorulanlar.org’ idea occurred to us.”
However it would be more challenging to realize the project than it seemed. The research center of the foundation formed a team coordinated by the president Yesil. A list of frequently directed questions, which were to be matched with their answers after long discussions, was made at the first meeting. The number of items proposed and agreed on by 13 attendees was 30. The contemplation over these questions and answers took the foundation a while during which they were assisted by Gulen Institute in the US with its eight-member team to reach the most accurate answers. “What is worth-stressing here is that the reference source to the answers was certainly Gulen. His all interviews to date were compiled and categorized by subject in addition to reviewing his books. We gave the answers referring both to his books and interviews.” Yesil said. Although seemingly an easy task, the project definitely challenged the team. The website was barely launched after a year of discussing and conferring with authorities for their opinions and feedback.
The website featuring questions and answers on issues ranging from Gulen’s political stance and women’s involvement in Hizmet has an interactive design. Visitors can not only send their own questions hitting ‘send question’ link but also contact the respective officials regarding the previously answered ones. Besides, some questions are planned to be answered directly by the relevant video clips from Gulen’s sermons. Gulen’s views on current developments in Turkey and around the globe will be also available on the English-Turkish bilingual website. According to the president Yesil, the mission of Hizmet thus will be realized.
Sample Questions
- What is the role of Gulen in the movement’s activities and projects?
- What would you say about the allegations of Hizmet’s infiltrating and taking over the state?
- While some mention an alliance or a coalition, some, on the other hand, claim that a clash exists between the ruling Justice and Development Party and Hizmet. What is your view?
- How can the nature and the exact definition of the civil movement referred as Hizmet be summed up?
- What's Gulen’s relationship with the schools?
- What are Gulen’s views on human rights? Does he too, like many, believe that it is the imperialist world’s deception to divide Turkey?
- Does the allegation that Gulen took over police force, intelligence service in particular, reflect the truth?
- What does Gulen think about Turkey’s membership to the European Union?
- How are the movement’s projects financed?
- What do you think about the allegations that Gulen is the subcontractor of” the greater middle east plan” of the US and that he is the representative of moderate Islam?
- As Gulen is taking the control over Turkish media day by day by incorporating media organs such as Kanal Turk, Bugun and Sabah, can we suggest that a Gulenist media exists?
- In what ways is Gulen spiritual?
- What is the historical context in which the movement evolved into what it is today?
- To what extent is the claim “Gulen community is carrying out a counter revolution in cooperation with Justice and Development Party” true?
- The movement that had never supported a political party explicitly and been associated with one till 2002 is now explicitly supporting Justice and Development Party? Why?
Related Article: A Guidebook to Gulen Movement
