Fethullah Gulen Tolerance, Dialogue and Peace
During the 11th International Book Fair in Thessaloniki academicians discussed Hizmet movement led by Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gulen. In reaction to a campaign against Hizmet movement organized by Erdogan after corruption scandal that took place on December 2013, academicians that gathered at the fair stated:
“Hizmet is not a gang, it is a movement,” - Sotiris Livas, a professor on the Middle East and Turkey at Ionio University.
“The movement is faith based and is a civil community that aims for a culture of togetherness,” -Journalists and Writers Foundation (GYV) Secretary-General Hüseyin Hurmalı.
“Gülen is one of those rare people who is building a bridge between modernity, free market, technology and science.” - Dimitris Keridis, the director of Navarino Network, a public policy think tank in Thessaloniki.
