February 17, 2014

Islamists lost test with power, Arab and Turkish intellectuals agree

Gathering in İstanbul at a meeting organized by Turkish Review and Hira magazines, Arab and Turkish intellectuals have discussed the role of the state in Muslim societies and agreed that Islamist politicians have lost their test with power, as they were transformed by the state instead of transforming the state.

The Hizmet movement and external forces

İhsan Yılmaz

When a respectable theologian recently said, "The problem is whether these entities [religious communities] will knowingly or unknowingly become part of the intervention with Turkey," this made explicit what has long been implicitly purported in recent debates.

Lambsdorff: Turkish press intimidated, under pressure

A senior member of the European Parliament (EP), German Liberal Alexander Graf Lambsdorff, said the Turkish press is intimidated and under pressure, and also strongly criticized the new Internet law.

You cannot explain it!

Ekrem Dumanlı

An elderly man approached me as I was walking out of the mosque.

He recognized me; apparently, he wanted to tell me something. He said, “I have been voting for these people for almost two decades; but I now feel disappointed.” I tried to calm him down, but he continued, “Who has the right to insult an Islamic scholar so arrogantly?” He was about to burst into tears. He was not in the mood to hear me out.

Protecting or spreading Islam?*

Hüseyin Gündoğdu

Many things were said and written on the reasons of conflict between the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and the Hizmet movement, but most of those alleged reasons seem not reflecting the "main cause."

Turkish schools in Somalia won 22 medals in 2 years

Turkish schools in Somalia have shown great success within two years, winning a total of 22 medals in Olympic competitions since 2011.

Applicants affiliated with CHP, Hizmet movement face discrimination

Following the tension between the government and the Hizmet movement -- inspired by Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen -- the government has based its recruitment policy on “color lists” to avoid employing people affiliated with some groups such as the Hizmet movement and the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) in the public sector, a Turkish daily claimed on Monday.

Kimse Yok Mu soup kitchen to serve weekly hot meal in Somalia

The international aid and relief foundation Kimse Yok Mu, which has been active in Somalia with its permanent aid efforts for quite some time, has launched its weekly hot meal service in the capital city Mogadishu. One thousand needy people, approximately, are anticipated to benefit from the service every Friday.