January 20, 2013

Tolerance and Reconciliation

Prof. Toktamış Ateş *

Foreword to Fethullah Gulen's book “Love and the Essence of Being Human", Journalists and Writers Foundation Publications, (2004, 2nd Edition, pp. 13-18).

Everybody draws out their own meaning from democracy. Some people claim that democracy is carrying their ideas to power by persuading others; some claim democracy means being able to express their ideas freely. When it is time to speak, everybody defends democracy. But the number of people who are sincere enough to oppose a dictator who back their way is extremely limited.

Fethullah Gulen: Birand was an exemplary journalist

Mehmet Ali Birand
Chairman of the Kanal D News Group and veteran journalist Mehmet Ali Birand, who advocated more freedoms and democracy in Turkey during a career spanning 48 years, has died. He was 71.

Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen expressed his condolences in a statement he released on Thursday night, describing Birand an exemplary journalist who didn't compromise his democratic behavior despite all hardship and pressure.