What is now referred to as the Gulen movement (Hizmet to it's adherents) has long been a part of Turkey's social landscape. But in recent years, interest in the movement has gone far beyond Turkey's borders, with discussions of Fethullah Gulen and his ideas in forums and platforms including the Arab League, the Russian Parliament, the European Parliament and the British House of Lords.

Sociologist Helen Rose Ebaugh whose book on Gulen movement was published recently, has said those criticizing the movement have no evidence to back up their claims.

M. Fethullah Gulen, a Turkish Muslim scholar, educator and peace activist, has been awarded an honorary doctorate of education by Leeds Metropolitan University for his contribution to education, peace making and intercultural dialogue.

“What our nation should do is avoid being antagonized by those who use the saddening and ugly occurrences for their dirty purposes. Our nation should not support thoughts and movements that will cause us to lose our gains in the fields of human rights and democracy” cautioned M. Fethullah Gulen

Brian Knowlton of the New York Times interviewed with M. Fethullah Gulen and the article was published in both New York Times and International Herald Tribune last week. Recalling that Mr. Gulen was the first Muslim scholar who condemned the 9/11 attacks days after the incident, there is no doubt that the article is worth perusing.

Professor Doğu Ergil, a distinguished political scientist, has completed his two-and-a-half-year study on the volunteer movement inspired by Fethullah Gulen, a preacher, prolific writer and advocate of interfaith and intercultural dialogue.

Assembly of Turkic American Federations (ATAF) hosted its Opening Gala Reception at the Willard Intercontinental Hotel with 7 US Senators and 53 US Representatives in attendance. Gathering six federations representing the Turkic-American community in the United States, the reception also brought representatives of Turkic and Eurasian communities together with ambassadors, policy makers and their staffers. US senators Mark Warner, Robert Casey, Richard Lugar, Frank Lautenberg, Jeff Bingaman, Roger Wicker, and Kay Hagen were among the participants.

The second annual Anatolian Cultures and Food Festival transformed The Orange County Great Park of California into the Anatolian Peninsula. Folk dancers, musicians, chefs and craftsmen brought to life Anatolia's diverse heritage of food, crafts and music. Turkish, Sufi, Christian, Armenian, Greek and Ottoman cultures of Anatolia are represented at the event that showcases the unique foods, music, costumes and customs from around the globe.