December 11, 2013

Gülen rejects labeling of Hizmet as ‘gang,' calls it ‘traitorous'

Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen has rejected the labeling of the Hizmet movement as a “gang,” saying those who uttered this word committed “traitorous” behavior.

The US, Israel, Iran, Kurds, AKP and Hizmet

İhsan Yılmaz

Last week, I was in the United Kingdom for the launch of our newly co-edited book “The Muslim World and Politics in Transition.

How does Erdoğan hurt the liberal pious of Turkey?

Sevgi Akarçeşme

Turkey has been vigorously debating the nature of its democracy and popular Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's ruling style, which has increasingly authoritarian tendencies, as never before since the Gezi Park protests in May. From my perspective, the Gezi protests, on which everyone was almost forced to take sides, is a grey area since both the government and the protesters made their share of mistakes.

Davutoğlu says Turkish schools abroad play an important representative role

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu has said Turkish schools abroad are playing an important representative role and that Turkish government officials will do everything to support them.

Gulen movement is of high interest to Moroccans

Abdülhamit Bilici

…The counterbalancing, both modern and traditional attitudes of scholars like Ahmed Abbadi, president of League of Moroccan Ulama, who calls attentions to the facts that Morocco has never come under the rule of any pride-motivated power since the Umayyad; the Ottomans established an everlasting relation here based on mutual respect that dates back to caliphate having its roots in Prophet Muhammad (pbuh); it disseminates a tolerant Islamic understanding throughout a vast area ranging from Andalusia to Nigeria; Moroccans, who recognize thoughts and value the individual as much as they do the state and who have no hidden agenda; are Ash’ari in belief, Maliki in practice and unanimous in opting for Cuneydi Bagdadi’s interpretation; have a significant role in the country’s current success.

Abant Platform to hold meeting on Alevi issues in Turkey

The Abant Platform, organized by the Journalists and Writers Foundation (GYV), will hold a three-day meeting on the Alevi issue at a hotel on the shore of Lake Abant.