Islam, terrorism and the media

Bülent Keneş

We unfortunately live in an unfair world. Injustice is so ubiquitous that we can categorize it based on our neighborhood, our city, our region, our country and the world. Any kind of injustice, discrimination or otherization -- such as social injustice, class injustice, inequity in income distribution and a lack of equal opportunities in education, business and social mobility -- may rear its ugly head at any moment in our daily life. Not only the cases of social injustice we encounter in our daily life, but also the sentiments of rage and revolt stemming from national or international injustice may trigger reactions that are against the nature of people who normally have psychological integrity.

Turkish group among first to send aid to ‘Yolanda’ victims

MANILA, Philippines–Unknown to many Filipinos, a Turkish aid organization was among the first to respond to the devastation caused by Super Typhoon “Yolanda” (international name: Haiyan) in Eastern Visayas last year.

Terrorist organization, you say

Ekrem Dumanlı

He is 73 years old and is known as a respected scholar who has been studying Islamic exegesis. He is well-known in academia. He was promoted to associate professor in the field of Islamic exegesis back in 1977. He served as head of the exegesis department at the faculty of theology at Erzurum's Atatürk University, conducted research in Paris Sorbonne, taught at the faculty of Islamic studies at the Islamic University of Madinah, was the chair of exegesis studies at Marmara University and conducted academic studies at International Islamic University of Malaysia. He is the author of 13 books and hundreds of articles.

Reuters: Part of Turkish media say have been shut out by government

Turkish media close to a US-based Islamic preacher accused by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of seeking to usurp power say they have been shut out of government press events in a move they see as evidence of Turkey's deteriorating press freedoms.

Kimse Yok Mu waits weeks for aid campaign go-ahead

Turkish charity Kimse Yok Mu (Is Anybody There?) has been waiting for 37 days for permission from the İstanbul Governor's Office to continue seven aid campaigns bringing various kinds of relief and services to people in need around the world.

Fethullah Gülen’s educational philosophy, its global practice in the secular world

Graham E. Fuller

Islam has a long tradition of philanthropic contributions (zakat, or tithe) by the wealthy to aid the poor and to build mosques. Gülen shifts that approach: he has said that Turkey has enough mosques; instead he urges that philanthropic “good works” are more usefully directed towards building schools or hospitals. Through this vision, Hizmet has slowly built a large network of private schools, initially in Turkey and now increasingly around the world, at this point numbering well over one thousand schools. They are not religious schools, nor do they resemble “parochial” (private Roman Catholic) schools in the US. In Turkey the Gülen schools teach the curriculum established by the Turkish Ministry of National Education. They contain no religious instruction apart from a standard course on Islam long mandated by the secular Turkish government in all public schools as part of Turkish culture. Hizmet schools in other countries follow the curricula set by their own governments.”

'Mr. Gülen is to me simultaneously both incredibly modest and a visionary'

Fikir Atlasi*, Episode 16 (Full text)

My name is Stephanie Varnon-Hughes**. I'm a PhD student at Claremont Lincoln University, where I'm studying Inter-Religious Education.

Gandhi’s granddaughter: Hizmet movement realized all we dreamed of

Peace activist and iconic leader Mahatma Gandhi's granddaughter, Ela Gandhi, has said that the Hizmet movement realized all they had dreamed of, in reference to the activities of the South Africa-based Turquoise Harmony Institute.

G-20 summit blockade shameful for Turkey, businessman says

A blockade imposed on certain businessmen from attending the G-20 summit, to be attended by Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu in Brisbane, Australia, is shameful for Turkey, Murat Çoşkun, who was among the businessmen in question, has said.

Former Filipino deputy: Great that we have Kimse Yok Mu

Speaking at the first anniversary of the Haiyan typhoon, the most devastating one in the Philippines’ history, the former Filipino deputy Chua thanked Kimse Yok Mu for its aid and relief efforts. “Great that we have you and Turkey. On behalf of my country, I would like to thank KYM. You’ve never left us alone since the very first day. Many organizations left here after two weeks but you didn’t.” Chua said.

Kimse Yok Mu distributes heating stoves in Mongolia

Kimse Yok Mu Foundation (KYM) recently gave away heating stoves to the needy in Mongolia. The recipient Mongolians in Erdenet city, located 400 km away from the capital Ulan Bator, expressed thanks to the foundation officials.

Turkish-Australian businessmen blocked from G-20 summit

Australian businessmen of Turkish descent who are affiliated with the faith-based Hizmet movement have been removed from the guest list of the upcoming G-20 summit, according to undisclosed sources.

Gülen says never considered establishing political party

Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen has reiterated that he has never thought of establishing a political party, saying that the Hizmet movement has never had organic relations with a political group.

Gandhi’s granddaughter heaps praise on Hizmet Movement

Speaking at the Turkuaz Harmony Institute dinner in South Africa, Ela Gandhi expressed high praise for the Hizmet Movement for achieving success beyond its wildest dreams.

19,000 students take entrance exam for Afghan-Turkish schools

In the exam, held in six provinces of Afghanistan, 19,000 students have competed to be amongst the 782 who will get their education from an Afghan-Turkish school.

’Hizmet-PKK collaboration’ rhetoric like the one created by Ergenekon

The pro-government media outlets have recently been churning out news stories that are geared to create the image that the Hizmet movement is collaborating with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

New memorandum: Cooperation between Hizmet movement and PKK?

Bülent Korucu

Frankly speaking, when I heard the most recent move to finish off the Hizmet movement, it did not sound convincing. I posted messages on social media that the government would not dare sacrificing the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), if not the Hizmet movement. But when I saw consecutive statements by Deputy Prime Minister Yalçın Akdoğan critical of the PKK, my mind was changed. If the government's partnership with the PKK ended, the political administration would be killing two birds with one stone. And they have the templates for doing this. It is possible to think that the mentality of the government would not miss this opportunity to copy the practices of the Feb. 28 "memorandum." If the reports are true, it is possible to speak of some preliminary efforts to launch a similar operation. If this is the case, it is useful to remember the memorandum process.

Bank Asya says running healthily, capital structure strong

Leading Turkish Islamic lender Bank Asya's operations are continuing "healthily" and its capital adequacy ratio stands at 18.32 percent, above the market average, the bank said in a statement on Tuesday.

Syrian refugees affected by AK Party government's actions against Kimse Yok Mu

Turkish charity Kimse Yok Mu provided assistance to the Syrian refugees in Turkey amounting to TL 71 million which includes education, household needs food, clothing, health and cleaning agents, local aid director Davut Koçak told Sunday's Zaman.

A true Anatolian marvel

Şahin Alpay

My column in the Turkish-language Zaman daily turned 12 last week. The first column, published on Nov. 5, 2002 with the title “A victory for democracy,” celebrated the first election victory of the Justice and Development Party (AKP).

Imam Sytari praises Fethullah Gulen as a global thinker

Mufti of Shkodra Muhamed Sytari has been the guest of yesterday's "Bugajski Hour" in Albanian Screen where he made strong statements about various current issues.

The gravest-ever smear

Ekrem Dumanlı

The erstwhile political Islamists -- who would frequently utter the slogan "Every day is Ashura and everywhere is Karbala," referring to the tragic incident in Islamic history when the Prophet Muhammad's grandsons, Hasan and Husain, as well as those who accompanied them, were ambushed and slaughtered near Karbala in Iraq -- apparently stick today to the formula "Every day is a lie and everywhere is a smear."

Who benefits the most from the AKP-Gülen movement rift?

Ömer Taşpınar

Over the last 12 years, the Justice and Development Party's (AKP) chief accomplishment has been to establish the supremacy of Turkey's elected leaders over the military. The Turkish military had ousted four governments since 1960.

Efforts to accuse Hizmet movement of conspiracy failed, says lawyer

With the courts continuing to release police officers arrested in government-backed investigations, the lawyer of one of these officers says the court decisions have shown that the government is failing to demonstrate that the faith-based Hizmet movement was behind efforts to overthrow the government.

Gov’t effort to bring down bank would have international repercussions

MHP deputy Başesgioğlu criticized the government campaign aimed at bringing down publicly traded Bank Asya.

AK Party gov’t searches for scapegoat for stalled PKK talks

Having failed to make progress on the settlement process, which was supposed to pave the way for the disarming of Kurdish militants and address long-standing Kurdish demands, the Turkish government has now turned its attention to finding a scapegoat on which to place blame for the stalled talks ahead of national elections slated for June 2015.

Ex-AK Party delegate slams persecution of Hizmet movement

Former AK Party delegate Özdalga criticized the gov’t on all fronts, including the corruption cover-up, persecution of Hizmet, as well as regional policies.

100,000 blankets campaign by Turkish-American groups in US media

A group of civil society groups, including Turkish-American charity organizations, and local officials in Northern Virginia have collected 100,000 blankets for Syrian refugees in Turkey as winter is fast approaching, The Washington Post reported on Wednesday.

'A very good representative of the best in Islam, Hizmet contributes to the non-Muslim world's understanding of Islam'

Fikir Atlasi*, Episode 15 (Full text)

My name is Allen Maller**. I am a rabbi. To be specific, I am a Reform rabbi.

The smear campaign against Kimse Yok Mu in 11 minutes

Kimse Yok Mu (KYM), a nonprofit humanitarian aid and development organization based in Istanbul, active in 113 countries is victimized by a media smear campaign in Turkey.

Turkey’s largest charity group targeted

Abdullah Bozkurt

Turkey's political Islamists, armed with abusive government powers, are deliberately and maliciously trying to strangle the country's leading private charity group, Kimse Yok Mu, in order to dismantle an important barrier in front of the awkward social engineering project of turning this moderate Muslim nation into a bastion for ideological zealots.

Lawyer denies claims Gülen linked to new party

The lawyer of the Turkish Islamic scholar whose teachings are the inspiration behind the Hizmet movement, Fethullah Gülen, has denied reports in the media that Gülen or the Hizmet movement have founded or been involved in the formation of a recently established political party.

Kimse Yok Mu opens school for Syrian children

Turkey's UN-affiliated aid organization Kimse Yok Mu inaugurated a school in the northern Iraqi city of Arbil on Friday that will provide education to the children of Syrian refugees.

Ban on Bank Asya share trading scrutinized

A decision by the Turkish index Borsa İstanbul (BİST) to prevent the stock of the country's largest Islamic lender from being traded on the market between Aug. 14 and Sept. 15 will be re-evaluated, the country's capital markets watchdog said on Friday.

"Turkey, with the great assistance of Fethullah Gülen‎ has been a model"

Fikir Atlasi*, Episode 14 (Full text)

My name is, Patrick Drinan**, and I'm a Professor Emeritus and Dean Emeritus from the University of San Diego. I taught International Relations at the University of San Diego for many years.

'Claims Hizmet formed political party one big lie'

Journalists and Writers Foundation

It is impossible for a civil society movement that is supported by millions of volunteers from various political views to form or make someone form a political party. This claim, which is frequently and intentionally brought to the agenda, is just a big lie.

GYV says claims Hizmet formed political party one big lie

The Journalists and Writers Foundation (GYV), whose honorary chairman is Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, released a statement on its website on Wednesday strongly rejecting claims that the Hizmet movement formed a political party.

Turkish teacher dies of cancer, buried in Australia

Sezer Morkoç (43), a chemistry teacher at a Turkish school in Australia, died of cancer on Monday and was buried in Adelaide.

AKP’s war against ’internal enemies’

Orhan Kemal Cengiz

When this government was gaining strength, the military guardianship and the role of the MGK were weakened. And I was very happy for a while that we had put aside this “internal enemies” nonsense and instead we started to talk about crimes, suspects and their rights, and so on.

'I see the Hizmet movement as the best expression of Islam'

Fikir Atlasi*, Episode 13 (Full text)

I am Steve Gilliland**. I am American.

Child victims to be affected by smear campaign against KYM

The smear campaign conducted by the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government against Kimse Yok Mu (Is Anybody There) -- a charity run by the Hizmet movement inspired by prominent Turkish scholar Fethullah Gülen -- will affect the children, including victims of sexual assault, staying in the Women's Shelter of Tacloban City in the Philippines.

State discrimination against Hizmet movement sympathizers

Oğuzhan Tekin

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government is aiming to take all steps to finish off Hizmet movement sympathizers by any means. Discrimination is one of these steps. Discrimination is a human rights violation. I would like to share five of my personal experiences, of many more, to show what kind of discrimination is being committed against the movement's sympathizers.

Red Book

Ekrem Dumanlı

Those who came to power by promoting an Islamist ideology have been performing pretty poorly. Those who expected support from the people due to the unfair decisions of the National Security Council (MGK) up until recently are now trying to rely on this institution to achieve their goals. And unfortunately, no reasonable or liberal-minded politicians have been criticizing this or attracting attention to this mistake. What a terrible fear this is that silences people.

Islam's internal enemies

Abdülhamit Bilici

Caliph Omar, who is renowned for his attention to justice, paid a visit to sacred sites after taking over control of Jerusalem from Governor Sophronius. He visited Masjid al Aqsa and later also wanted to see the Church of Resurrection where, according to Christian belief, Jesus was crucified and prepared for burial. Sophronius, who was walking with Omar, recalled that he performed prayers everywhere he visited and asked him to do the same at the church. Omar rejected the request saying, “If I perform prayer here, Muslims will build a mosque on this very spot.” Instead he found an empty area to the south of the church for prayer, upon which Muslims thereafter erected a mosque named after Omar.

Nigerian education minister says Nigeria indebted to Turkish schools

Nigerian Education Minister Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau has said his country will always be indebted to the Turkish schools operating in the country.

Kılıçdaroğlu: Consensus should set content of ‘Red Book,' not AK Party

Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu has criticized the Justice and Development Party's (AK Party) attempt to label the faith-based Hizmet movement a terrorist organization at last week's National Security Council (MGK) meeting and put this classification into the “Red Book,” saying the content of this text cannot change in accordance with the ruling party's views.

Journalist reveals MGK decision to fight against all religious groups

In a statement that came as a confession, a reporter from the pro-government Sabah daily said a decision was made at the National Security Council (MGK) meeting on Thursday to wage an effective war against all religious groups in the country.

The story of the boy who cried wolf

Mümtazer Türköne

The Sabah newspaper greeted the news of the 10-hour National Security Council (MGK) meeting with the headline “Parallel structure added to red book.” But this was, of course, a complete lie. For a long time now, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has been indicating that the Hizmet movement -- which he refers to as the “parallel structure” -- would be officially added to the National Security Strategy Concept Paper as a “domestic threat.” This is a part of his personal vendetta and Erdoğan has kept up this propaganda war even as president of Turkey.

Former AK Party deputy Şükür reveals gov't job offer

Hakan Şükür, a Turkish member of Parliament and former international football player expressed that before his resignation from the AK party, a high-level ministry position was offered to him.

Traitor in Turkey

Abdullah Bozkurt

An unusually vitriolic campaign waged by Turkey's authoritarian leader, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, against opponents and critics using baseless accusations and full-blown conspiracies has torn apart unity and bipartisanship even on the most critical national security matters.

Top security council's vague wording draws reactions

A vaguely worded statement issued by Turkey's top security body on Thursday, which listed internal and external threats directed at Turkey, drew harsh rebuke from opposition parties.

AK Party brings back internal enemy card to divert attention

In open contradiction with its history and past promises, the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government is getting ready to denounce the faith based Hizmet movement as a national security threat in the latest meeting of the National Security Council (MGK) under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Thursday in Ankara.

TUSKON to sue dailies over disputed land reports

Leading Turkish business group, the Turkish Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists (TUSKON) said on Thursday it will soon file lawsuits against certain government dailies which published allegations of irregularities regarding disputed land in İstanbul.

Main Opposition Deputy Head Slams Gov't For Targeting Hizmet Movement

Republican People's Party (CHP) Deputy Chairman Faruk Logoglu criticized government, which signaled Hizmet Movement should be included in “Red Book,” a national security document in which major threats against the nation are enumerated, on Thursday. Logoglu responded questions asked by the reporters.

'Red Book' should not be used as a threat, analysts say

Former members of the National Security Council (MGK) have warned that the “Red Book,” a national security document in which major threats against the nation are enumerated, should not be used as a tool for threats, but expressed concern that the government is possibly used it in just such a way.