The Gülen movement is a transnational civic society movement inspired by the teachings of Turkish Islamic theologian Fethullah Gülen.

Contents 1 Movement nature and participation 2 Movement activities 2.1 Education 2.2 Interfaith and intercultural dialogue 2.3 Intracultural dialogue 2.4 Media 2.5 Aid 2.6 Finance 3 Civic engagement and politics 3.1 Gender roles 4 Criticisms of Gülen and the Gülen movement 5 History 6 References 7 External links 7.1 The Gülen movement 7.2 Other sources

[edit] Movement nature and participation

The exact number of supporters of the Gülen movement is not known, as there is no membership system, but estimates vary from hundreds of thousands to 4 million.^[1][2] The movement consists primarily of students, teachers, businessman, journalists and other educated professionals^[3], arranged in a flexible organizational network.^[4] It has founded schools, universities, an employers' association, as well as charities, real estate trusts, lobby groups, student bodies, radio and television stations, and newspapers.^[2] The schools and businesses organize locally, and link into networks on an informal rather than legal basis. ^[5] After an inquiry into the effects of movement's activities in Holland, Dutch Integration Minister Eberhard Van der Laan described it as "an alliance of loosely affiliated independent institutions rather than a movement."^[6]

The Economist described the Gülen movement as a Turkish-based movement which sounds more reasonable than most of its rivals, and which is vying to be recognized as the world's leading Muslim network.^[7] It stated that Gülen has won praise from non-Muslim quarters with his belief in science, inter-faith dialog and multi-party democracy. Nilüfer Göle, professor of sociology at the Ecole des Hautes Etudes in Paris, who is known for her studies on modernization and conservatism, has described the Gülen movement as the world's most global movement.^[8]

One of the main characteristics of the movement is that it is faith-based but not faith-limited. In several countries, there are Christians, even at the community leadership level, who feel close to or inspired by the movement.^{[citation needed]}

In London, October, 2007 a conference examining the nature and activities of the movement was sponsored by the University of Birmingham, the Dialogue Society, the Irish School of Ecumenics, Leeds Metropolitan University, the London Middle East Institute, the Middle East Institute and the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. A 750-page reportof the proceedings was published by Leeds Metropolitan University. There was a reception at the House of Lords.

[edit] Movement activities

[edit] Education

Globally, the Gülen movement is especially active in education. In 2009 Newsweek claimed that movement participants run "schools in which more than 2 million students receive education, many with full scholarships".^[9] Estimates of the number of schools and educational institutions vary widely, from about 300 schools in Turkey ^[10] to over 1,000 schools worldwide.^[11] Participants in the movement have also founded private universities, including Fatih University in Istanbul^{[citation needed]}.

Teachers are drawn from members of the Gülen network, who often encourage students in the direction of greater piety.^[12] The Economist observes that in Pakistan "they encourage Islam in their dormitories, where teachers set examples in lifestyle and prayer." ^[13] Another article in the New York Times, described the Turkish schools, which have expanded to seven cities in Pakistan since the first one opened a decade ago, as offering a gentler approach to Islam that could help reduce the influence of extremism.^[14] However, schools are not for Muslims alone, ^[15] and in Turkey "the general curriculum for the network’s schools prescribes one hour of religious instruction per week, while in many countries the schools do not offer any religious instruction at all. With the exception of a few Imam-Hatip schools abroad, these institutions can thus hardly be considered Islamic schools in the strict sense."^[16]

The schools in Kazakhstan have been accused of following admissions policies which favor the wealthy and well-connected.^[5] Schools established by Gülen movement participants in Tashkent and St. Petersburg were closed for a period, accused of supporting Islamic groups (Tashkent) and diverging from the state curriculum (St. Petersburg).^[17][18] However, the St. Petersburg school filed an appeal. Subsequently, the school's founding rights were restored with a ruling handed down on March 25, 2008. The education committee referred the case to the 13th Appeals Court for a reversal of the lower court’s decision. The appeals court announced its verdict on July 1, upholding the ruling of the administrative court. The 13th Appellate Court also canceled all the bylaws made by the educational committee in the absence of the Turkish entrepreneurs^{[clarification needed]} and returned the school’s license. International School No. 664, in St. Petersburg, was re-opened in July 2008 after having its license revoked for over a year.^[19]

[edit] Interfaith and intercultural dialogue

Center for Interreligious Understanding Director Rabbi Jack Bemporad has said the Gülen movement aims to create a more peaceful world and invites all people to unity.^[20]

B. Jill Carroll of Rice University in Houston said in an Interfaith Voices program, an independent public radio show that promotes interfaith understanding through dialog, that "Gülen has greatly impacted three generations in Turkey. He also influences considerable masses all across the world with his speeches and deeds. He leads a very modest life. Thousands of institutions have been established all around the globe by the Gülen movement, but he doesn’t undertake the administration of even one of them. When people see such aspects of this movement, they say 'these are not Muslims in words, they are real Muslims'. Of the schools she said: "These schools invest in the future and aim at creating a community that offers equal opportunities for everyone."

[edit] Intracultural dialogue

Since 1998 the Journalists and Writers Foundation, whose honorary president is Gülen, have conducted independent working groups (i.e. voluntary, not state-funded) with the aim of reaching consensus on issues which are politically or culturally divisive in Turkey. Participants and speakers (journalists and academics) are invited from all points of the political spectrum and from the different groupings in Turkey.^[3] Discussions end with an agreed 'declaration' signed by all participants. The first of these working groups to be established was the Abant Platform, named after Lake Abant, where its first meeting was held. Abant participants have discussed Islam and Secularism (1998); Religion, State and Society (1999); the Legal, Democratic State (2000); Pluralism and Societal Compromise (2001); Globalization - Political, Economic and Cultural Dimensions (2002); War and Democracy (2003).

İzzettin Doğan, a leader of Alevi circles in Turkey and the President of the Cem Foundation, said of Gülen:

He has made positive contributions to the construction of cemevis (Alevi places of worship). Years ago, he said, "Cemevis should be constructed next to mosques." This is a very important statement. In addition, he is open to discussion. In this regard, I never had any doubts about Gülen's ideas. ^[21]

[edit] Media

Movement participants have set up a number of media organs, including Turkish-language TV stations (Samanyolu TV, Mehtap TV), an English-language TV station in the United States (Ebru TV), a Turkish-language newspaper (Zaman), an English-language newspaper (Today's Zaman), magazines and journals in Turkish (Sızıntı, Yeni Ümit, Aksiyon), English (The Fountain), and Arabic (Hira), an international media group (Cihan)and a radio station (Burç FM).

[edit] Aid

The aid charity Kimse Yok Mu? (Is there anybody there?) was established in March 2004 as a continuation of a TV program of the same name which ran on (Samanyolu TV) for some years. It provides aid to those in need in Turkey and the region and in other areas (including, for example, Peru and Sudan).

[edit] Finance

Bank Asya, formerly Asya Finans, was founded by Gülen movement participants in 1994. It offers a variety of interest-free banking services. It was established with capital of 2 million Turkish Lira and had reached paid-up capital of 900 million TL by 2009. The Işık Sigorta (Light Insurance) company describes itself as a "partner" of Bank Asya.

Movement supporters have also formed business lobbying groups and think tanks in Washington and Brussels and these inter-connected businesses constitute one of the strongest capital bases in Turkey.^[9] Movement's activities are supported by donations coming from all classes of people in the society^[22]

[edit] Civic engagement and politics

Forbes magazine identified the chief characteristic of the Gülen movement as not seeking to subvert modern secular states but rather encouraging practicing Muslims to use to the fullest the opportunities those countries offer.^[23] The New York Times describes the movement as coming from a "moderate blend of Islam that is very inclusive."^[14][24] Prospect magazine reported that Gülen and the Gülen movement "are at home with technology, markets and multinational business and especially with modern communications and public relations."^[25]

In Turkey, the Gülen movement tries to keep its distance from Islamic political parties, ^[26] but the schools in Central Asia have been described as supporting a philosophy based on Turkish nationalism rather than on Islam. ^[27]

The movement is sometimes accused of being "missionary" in intent, or of organizing in a clandestine way and aiming for political power.^[9]Professor Thomas Michel of Georgetown University, who observed schools in the Philippines, said: "This movement has never been engaged in politics. It has reached millions of children all across the world and helped with their education regardless of their races, languages, religions and nationalities."^[28] About the accusations of "hidden agenda", members of the movement say "Anybody who accuses us of having a hidden agenda, is welcome to come and quiz us. We have nothing to hide." ^[29].

In Europe, Former Norwegian Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik has said the ideas of Fethullah Gülen and the activities of the Gülen movement are in complete harmony with the approach of The Oslo Center for Peace and Human Rights.^[30] The Dutch government started an inquiry in 2008 because of a motion filed by four political parties. The inquiry showed that the Gülen movement and Turkish institutions having close ties to the movement do not obstruct integration in the Netherlands, that the movement is pacifist and prone to dialogue, believes that Islam and modernism can coexist, that it lacks a central unit or hierarchical structure.^[31]

[edit] Gender roles

In the movement there are secular women from conservative-right circles and women who do not wear the Islamic head covering, ^[32] but most of the time female participants do not question gender segregation in the movement. ^[33] Gender segregation "remains an ideal inside the cemaat and is never touched on in theory," but because of the variety of social activities the movement engages in, participants' practice is more liberal than the theoretical understanding of the movement. ^[34]

In the headscarf controversy in Turkey, when covered girls were prevented from going to school and university by the headscarf ban, the Gülen movement “was the first to insist on girls’ schooling at the cost of compromising their headscarf.” ^[35] Female members of the Refah party who refused to take their scarves off to go to university were critical of the compromising attitudes of the Gülen Movement. ^[36]

[edit] Criticisms of Gülen and the Gülen movement

Several books have been published in Turkish since the 1990s criticizing Gülen and the Gülen movement.

[edit] History

1938, 1941 or 1942 Gülen born either in Korucuk or Pasinler, villages in Erzurum province

1950's As a state preacher in Edirne, Gülen joins the Nurcu movement of Said Nursi

1960 death of Said Nursi

1960's Gülen begins attracting disciples while a state preacher in Izmir

1971 Gülen arrested for organizing Islamic summer camps, imprisoned seven months

late 1970's Gülen establishes himself independently of other Nurcu organizations; first isik evleri ("houses of light," i.e., student residences) established

1978 First dershane (study center for university exams) opens

1979 Science journal Sizinti begins publication

1980 Military coup in Turkey; Gülen expresses support

1981 Gülen retires

1982 First "Gülen school" opens

1986 Zaman, an Istanbul daily newspaper, begins publication

1988-1991 Gülen gives lectures in various Turkish cities, building a nationwide following

1991 Fall of Soviet Union permits establishment of Gülen schools in Central Asia

1994 Founding of the (Turkish) Journalists and Writers Foundation, with Gülen as "honorary leader"

1994, 1999 Gülen school in Tashkent closed (twice) by Uzbekstan government

1996 Founding of Fatih University; creation of Asya Finans (investment bank aimed at former Soviet Central Asia), with Tansu Çiller as an investor

1997 Gülen does not endorse "soft coup" ousting Erbakan

1998 Gülen meets with Pope John Paul II in Rome

1999 Gülen emigrates to Pennsylvania in self-imposed exile

2002 / 2004 Establishment of Kimse Yok Mu ("Is there anybody there?"), a charitable organization

[edit] References

[edit] External links

[edit] The Gülen movement

• Fethullah Gülen's official website
• Rumi Forum - Washington DC
• About Fethullah Gulen
• The Gülen Institute
• Fethullah Gülen Conference
• Institute of Interfaith Dialog
• Raindrop Foundation Turkish House
• The Journalists and Writers Foundation
• Kimse Yok Mu aid and solidarity charity
• Fethullah Gulen Forum
• Fethullah Gulen Conferences
• Gulen Library

[edit] Other sources

• Fethullah Gülen and his Liberal "Turkish Islam" movement
• The Gülen Movement: a modern expression of Turkish Islam
• FORBES - Gulen Inspires Muslims Worldwide
• Turkey's Champion of Interfaith Dialogue
• The Economist - Global Muslim networks- How far they have travelled
• The Economist- Fethullah Gulen- A farm boy on the world stage
• About Fethullah Gulen from FG Forum
• Reuters - Turkish Islamic preacher - threat or benefactor?
• The New York Times - Turkish Schools Offer Pakistan a Gentler Vision of Islam
• Today's Zaman- Criticizing Fethullah Gulen