Muslims have a duty to address those who distort Islam

Doğu Ergil

Does Fethullah Gülen suggest that Muslims have a duty to address those who distort Islam and, if so, what is that duty?

According to Fethullah Gülen, those who commit transgressions against the nation or religion to which they belong are the ones who do the most damage, because they attack it from the inside. On the contrary, one is always ready to face any challenge from a known enemy.

İstanbul Municipality covers Fatih College ads with black tarps

The İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality, which has already been faced with allegations of discrimination against Hizmet movement-affiliated institutions operating in the city, has covered Fatih College city billboard ads with black tarps.

US economist 'shocked' over anti-Bank Asya campaign

An American economist has expressed "shock" over anti-Bank Asya campaign and a government-orchestrated program to sink or seize it, stressing that this move sends wrong signal to both domestic and foreign investors.

Kimse Yok Mu flies back 210 Somali students

Kimse Yok Mu Foundation, active in 110 countries worldwide, has brought back its 210 Somali students who were on vacation in their country. The students studying at various high schools and universities across Turkey were happy to be back.

Turkish media being tested with the ‘parallel' lie

Orhan Oğuz Gürbüz

What sort of relationship should exist between the media and the general public? One needs to closely scrutinize the Turkey example when searching for the answer to this question. The vast majority of media bosses in Turkey have been unable to remove themselves from out under the direct control of ruling powers.

Saygılı accuses gov't of staging a coup on Dec. 18

Former İstanbul Police Department Financial Crimes Unit head Yakub Saygılı has submitted a petition to Public Prosecutor İsmail Uçar responding to allegations about the Dec. 17-25 corruption investigations and accusing the government of staging a coup on Dec. 18.

Offensive launched against Hizmet-affiliated schools in Antalya

The Antalya Metropolitan Municipality, which earlier changed the zoning plans of schools in the province affiliated with the faith-based Hizmet movement in compliance with a call made by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in June, is to make a final decision on the fate of the schools following deliberation by the municipal commission on zoning and public works.

Bank Asya seeks restart of suspended trading

Turkish Islamic lender Bank Asya, whose shares were suspended and removed from all indices on Aug. 7 amid political pressure, will ask the authorities to end a month-long trading suspension, a top bank official said on Tuesday.

Turkey Risks Setting Dangerous Precedent, Bank Asya CEO Says

Turkish authorities haven't responded to pleas by Bank Asya that they act to prevent what the bank has called unfair attacks on it, Chief Executive Officer Ahmet Beyaz said.

'Hizmet has been a key factor in promoting education'

Fikir Atlasi*, Episode 8 (Full text)

I’m Rabbi Larry Seidman**.

I was born in Brooklyn, NY and moved to California. I lived most of my life in California.

I was originally trained as an engineer. I’ve worked for many engineering companies; I have a PhD in Engineering from the University of California at Berkeley.

Turks mobilize to join solidarity campaign for Bank Asya

The government-led assault to sink Turkey's largest Islamic lender, Bank Asya, due to its affiliations with the Hizmet movement, has stirred a public movement, with thousands of people rushing to deposit money with the bank to aid its struggle for survival.

Dissident businesspeople profiled by government, daily says

Under the guise of fighting the Hizmet movement following the graft probes that went public in December, the government has been profiling businesspeople close to Hizmet but also those close to the leading opposition parties all over Turkey, a daily said on Wednesday.

BDDK says its official didn't speak to media on Bank Asya

Turkish banking regulatory watchdog has denied news reports claiming one of its senior officials told media that it took sweeping powers at Islamic lender Bank Asya, which has seen depositors flee and bad loans soar since it became under attack by the Turkish government.

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the West

İhsan Yılmaz

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan boasted, when flying to Wales for a NATO meeting, that he would ask Barack Obama to give Mr. Fethullah Gülen to him. This was in the headlines of nine national broadsheets that are under Erdoğan's strict control. Erdoğan noted that Turkey always gives terrorists to the US whenever the US demands them, and the US must do the same right now. He also said that he would challenge Western leaders on their alleged wiretapping of him, his ministers and top bureaucrats.

Arınç calls Gülen's extradition request a ‘political move'

Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç has described the Turkish government's request to the US for the extradition of Pennsylvania-based Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen as a “political move.”

Economy being sabotaged to sink Bank Asya, says Avni

Twitter user @FuatAvni claimed in a series of tweets sent on Tuesday that Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan and the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BDDK) are sabotaging the Turkish economy in order to sink Bank Asya.

'Black men's credit cards are not accepted here'

Orhan Kemal Cengiz

All the infringements of freedom of the press, all the journalists who have been sacked just because they made governmental circles angry, all the prosecutors and police officers who were dispersed all over the country just because they dared to launch an investigation into the alleged corruption and bribery of ministers and their children and all sorts of other things; I put them aside.

Kimse Yok Mu refutes pro-gov't dailies' allegations

Turkish charity Kimse Yok Mu (Is Anybody There?) issued a written statement on Monday refuting allegations raised by pro-government dailies Sabah and Takvim on the same day.

The conscience of the government

Nedim Hazar

Deputy prime minister and government spokesman Bülent Arınç's recent statement was an example of how politicians can twist the facts to suit their interests.

Is Islam more violent than any other faith?

Aydoğan Vatandaş

After the brutal atrocities of the "Islamic State" (IS), formerly known as the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (al-Dawla al-Islamiya fi al-Iraq wa al-Sham), Don Lemon, CNN's well-known anchorman, assembled a discussion last week addressing the question “Is Islam more violent than any other faith?”

Al-Qadi troubles in Turkey-US ties

Abdullah Bozkurt

Senior officials at the US Department of Treasury including Secretary Jack Lew and Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence David S. Cohen must be in the crosshairs of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his loyalist public prosecutors, who charged veteran Turkish police chiefs last week for investigating Yasin al-Qadi, who is listed by the US Treasury as a “specially designated global terrorist.”

You should give those documents to the court rather than the US

Adem Yavuz Arslan

In a previous column of mine, I wrote about how Turkey's Dec. 17 corruption scandal had been discussed in the US media in a piece titled "What if Dec. 17 happened in the US."

Gov't excludes a further 114 schools from incentive package

The Turkish government has removed an additional 114 private schools from the list of schools that are eligible for government incentives, saying that they were mistakenly included in the original list.

13 questions to the president

Veysel Ayhan

1. Mr. President, you attended the closing ceremony of the International Turkish Olympiad in June last year. "I congratulate our dear teachers who dedicate their lives to the promotion of the Turkish language and Turkey's bid for peace," you said, before proceeding to direct praise at the Hizmet movement and Mr. Fethullah Gülen -- who inspired that movement -- for some 25 minutes. What is the reason that we don't know, other than the graft and bribery investigations of Dec. 17 and 25, 2013, that urged you to make a U-turn and start to demonize the same Hizmet movement?

US law professor: Erdoğan's talk of Gülen extradition ‘foolishness'

Jim Harrington, a US human rights attorney and University of Texas professor, has said that any talk of asking the United States to extradite Turkish-Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen to Turkey is “foolish, absurd and self-serving.”

Will the CHP be able to fill the void?

Mümtazer Türköne

The Republican People's Party (CHP) congress, which convened on Friday in Ankara, is one of the indicators that things are not going well in the party. The CHP is not a homogenous party; it is rather a coalition of two parties or political wings. For this reason, intra-party struggle is just normal; but still, as the main opposition party, the CHP seems to be in decline.

TUSKON's Meral says AK Party replaced Kemalist parties of the past

Rıza Nur Meral, who heads one of Turkey's most influential business confederations, the Turkish Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists (TUSKON), has said the Turkish state, after suffering for many years because of Kemalist policies, has returned to the same old ideology under the rule of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government.

Top court rejects claims it is controlled by 'parallel structure'

Turkey's Constitutional Court has rejected claims that it is controlled by the "parallel structure," a phrase the government uses to describe followers of Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, dismissing claims that one of its rapporteurs were dismissed because he exposed this scheme.

Bank Asya account holders threatened against making deposits

Holders of accounts with the Islamic lender Bank Asya have been subjected to threats about making deposits, while being urged to withdraw money from their accounts, according to a report on Thursday in TheLira, an online financial outlet.

Lawyer: Demand for Gülen's extradition legal matter, not political

Amid Turkish media reports that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will seek the extradition of Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen from US President Barack Obama during a meeting at the NATO Summit, Gülen's lawyer criticized the potential move, saying that such a process is not a political matter but a legal one.

Galimbek's message

Abdülhamit Bilici

Because we have been unable to become a regular and normal democracy, every generation and every social segment has once been defined as a domestic enemy in different periods. One of the things that the clandestine structures governing the old Turkey did best was to declare part of the people as an internal enemy and to launch effective propaganda to undermine their image in the eyes of the people.

Halki, pope, patriarch and Gülen

Abdullah Bozkurt

The way Turkey's chief political Islamist and new president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has approached the reopening of the Halki seminary, a school that had trained Eastern Orthodox clergy for the Patriarchate for more than a century until it was forcibly shut down in 1971, represents a fundamental flaw in the thinking of so-called Islamists, who place more emphasis on symbolism than substance and like very much to employ divisive and hateful discourse as opposed to reaching out and embracing different faiths and cultures.

Bank to sue watchdog over ‘smear campaign' as reactions mount

Turkish Islamic lender Bank Asya has decided to sue authorities over inaction in light of what it has called "massive smear campaign" against the financial institution for nine months.

Highlights of major corruption, bribery operations of Dec. 17, 25

The investigations made public on Dec. 17 and 25 of last year revealed the biggest corruption and bribery scandal in the history of the republic, in which some members of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government as well as family members of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan were allegedly implicated.

Hizmet-affiliated schools removed from private school incentive list

The Ministry of Education engaged in scandalous discrimination on Thursday by crossing off Hizmet-affiliated schools at the eleventh hour from the list of private education institutions that students who are entitled to state financial assistance can enroll at.

“ISIS — A terrorist group making false representation of Islam,” says Turkish Muslim scholar Fethullah Gülen

Danish Ahmad Khan

Fethullah Gülen, a Turkish Muslim scholar, thinker, author, poet, opinion leader and educational activist. who is actively promoting interfaith and intercultural dialogue for over a decade now, has strongly condemned the brutal atrocities being committed by the ISIS terrorist group hiding behind a false religious rhetoric.

Consultation from Gülen’s perspective: The relationship between the ruler and the ruled

Doğu Ergil

Q: The concept of consultation prevents the individual’s melting within the society and contributes to the formulation of collective decisions. What kind of a role does Fethullah Gülen attribute to consultation as regards these two parties?

Gülen stresses that Muslims must prioritize the decisive statements of the Qur’an and the clear Sunnah. He says:

Fethullah Gulen's Maxim: Live So That Others May Live

Emre Çelik

The above may in fact actually summarize the life meaning for those who participate in the Hizmet (aka Gulen Movement).

Former CIA officer says US policies helped create IS

American [author and former CIA officer] Graham Fuller emphasized that the West, including the United States, has now accepted that the [Bashar al-] Assad government will retain power. According to Fuller, Turkey has to do the same. Fuller, who described the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham [now the Islamic State, or IS] as "made in the USA," also made a confession of sorts about the struggle between [Turkey's Justice and Development Party] AKP and the Gulen movement by saying, “It turned out to be deeper than I thought.” But he noted that the positive approach of the Unite toward [Fethullah] Gulen has not changed.

Erdoğan tapes not doctored, daily claims

The interrogations of the police officers detained in the latest wave in a series of raids on officers accused of plotting to overthrow the government have revealed that audio recordings purportedly of now-President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan that were released surrounding graft probes made public on Dec. 17 and Dec. 25, 2013 are authentic and not doctored, as has been claimed by Erdoğan and his aides.

Jurists suffocated by government pressure in state of 'revolt'

Statements given by top jurists on the occasion of the start of the new judicial year have revealed that the judiciary is, so to speak, in a state of revolt against the government's efforts to intervene in and redesign the judiciary.

Key witness in missionary murders claims intimidation

A formerly secret witness in the case of the murders of three Bible publishers in Malatya in 2007 has submitted two letters to the court alleging that certain persons attempted to intimidate him into changing his testimony.

'Hizmet a shiny beacon in the Islamic world, a beacon of hope for the future'

Fikir Atlasi*, Episode 7 (Full text)

Fr. Alexei Smith

My name is Father Alexei**.

I am a Catholic Priest, and I am not only a Pastor of a congregation here, Parish here, in Los Angeles, but I also work for the Archdiocese as the Ecumenical and Interreligious Officer for the Archdiocese.

Gov't discriminates against Hizmet-affiliated private schools

Some private schools affiliated with the Hizmet movement, a faith-based social movement inspired by Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, have been prevented from accessing government incentives.

Police officer coerced into testifying against Hizmet

Seyyit Akşit, a police officer who was detained on accusations of involvement in theft and misconduct and subsequently pressured into testifying against the Hizmet movement in exchange for a guarantee that he would be released, has sent information to the prosecutor conducting the investigation because the promises were not fulfilled.

Municipality seeks funds to build dorms after closing Hizmet housing

The Bolu Municipality, having previously closed down dorms and schools belonging to businesspeople affiliated with the faith-based Hizmet movement in July, recently sent official letters to more than 200 companies and businesspeople asking for money to meet student accommodation needs.

Zaman daily reporters not allowed to attend Erdoğan's press conference

Zaman daily reporters were not allowed to attend a press conference of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan that was held at İstanbul Atatürk Airport before Erdoğan flew to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC) on Monday.

Gülen's lawyer likens hate campaign against his client to Nazi era

Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen's attorney Nurullah Albayrak said the smear campaign targeting his client to marginalize him has peaked, stressing that the hate speech Gülen has been subjected to for months is comparable to Nazi era discriminatory practices.

Filipino military awards Turkish high school for peace initiatives

The Armed Forces of the Philippines have recognized the Filipino-Turkish Tolerance School in Zamboanga for their contribution to peace in the region.

Volunteer doctors on their way for Africa

Kimse Yok Mu Foundation unceasingly continues its medical aid efforts for Africa. Joined by its volunteer doctors with an age average under 50, the foundation is set to provide medical assistance for Tanzanians starting from August 29 thru September 7. In cooperation with the Istanbul-based Ufuk Doctors’ Foundation (UHEK), the volunteers will focus mainly on surgeries. The medical team consists of 15 doctors, one nurse and two coordinators. The doctors will volunteer in gynecology, orthopedics, urology, general surgery, in particular, and neurology, dentistry, family practice, psychiatry and psychology departments.

Ethiopian president hails contribution of Turkish schools to education

Ethiopian President Mulatu Teshome said Turkish schools in Ethiopia are considered to be a major contributing factor to the education sector in the country.

Decision to build road on school grounds nonsensical, say parents

Following the İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality and Güngören Municipality's decision to build a road within the courtyard of a private school affiliated with the Hizmet movement this week, the school management made a statement on Friday, saying that the parents of students at the school find the decision nonsensical.

A new era with Davutoğlu?

Begüm Burak

Ahmet Davutoğlu, a distinguished academic and the former foreign minister, has been elected as the new head of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and has become the 26th Prime Minister of Turkey.

Treason becomes routine accusation in Turkey

Tülin Daloğlu

Treason is a loaded word, but new Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has made it a habit over the years to accuse anyone critical of his policies with treason. He did the same Aug. 27 in his farewell speech to his Justice and Development Party (AKP) members and used the word “treason” 12 times, accusing the opposition, the Gulenists and the judiciary.

TUSKON encourages businessmen to shift sights toward India

Turkish Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists (TUSKON) President Rızanur Meral urged businessmen to consider opportunities for investment in India, particularly in light of the country's massive population and developing economy, while speaking in İzmir on Thursday.