Hermann looks closer into Hizmet movement, Gülen's life in FAZ article

Rainer Hermann speaks during
a conference in İstanbul. (Photo: Cihan)

Rainer Hermann, a respected writer for Germany's Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) daily, puts the Hizmet Movement, which includes followers of Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen's principles, and Gülen's life under spotlight in an article published on Friday.

The article titled “Tue Gutes, und lasse es wirken” (Do good and let it unfold), includes Hermann's interview with Gülen, who currently resides in the US and gives rare interviews, as well as interviews he had with others within the movement.

Hermann says the interview with Gülen was scheduled to take place after Islam's midday prayer. “That is when Gülen receives guests. He specifically asks them about what is going on in the world outside and always has follow-up questions. After this he will read again, write and pray. It is astonishing with how little sleep he can do. Every day is thoroughly structured. He preaches to his followers to use their time well and that is exactly what he himself does without ever being drawn into hectic. Almost on the minute he enters the room and sits down opposite of the guest. His followers say that he combines humbleness with charisma,” Hermann says according to the English translation of the article published online at Gülen's official website fgulen.com on Saturday.

Stating that the “Hizmet Movement” is active in the fields of education, media, dialogue, business and charity, Hermann says in the article that entrepreneurs close to Gülen have built more than 1000 private schools in more than 130 countries, including in Germany and the United States. “The most common accusation by the movement's critics is that it is raising secretly an Islamist elite which is preparing for a coup, e.g. in Turkey, as well as that the movement is not transparent and organized like a secret society. They are looking for organizational structures that do not exist. Gülen is rooted in the traditions of the mystic Islam of Sufism which does not know any hierarchical structures. Also at a time when military generals still had the say in Turkey, it would have been quite dangerous to form visible structures,” he says.

'Equating Hizmet with Islamism ignorance'

In the article, Gülen is quoted as saying that the movement is being attacked from two sides. Gülen calls those who equate the activities of “hizmet” with Islamism “ignorant.” “When it comes to the others, he only shakes his head. They accuse him of being ‘a traitor to Islam, being a slave of the United States and Israel as well as carrying out propaganda for Christianity and Judaism,” Hermann says recalling that a public prosecutor in Turkey once called him even a secret cardinal in the service of the Pope. “My life and my work are open for everyone”, Gülen is quoted as saying. “Nothing is kept secret. … “I would like to know what is not transparent about that,” Gülen says.

Gülen also reiterates the importance he attaches to education in the article which quotes him as saying that it is through education that a human being contributes in a constructive manner to his or her family, society and humanity. “Besides, I am convinced that we as God's creatures will only achieve our full individual maturity through worldly and spiritually education,” he says.

The article says Gülen tells his followers also to be successful entrepreneurs. “I always called people up to show the true spirit of entrepreneurship” says Gülen. He suggests companies to carefully take risks, encourages them to invest and expand abroad. “I always remember them about their social and societal responsibilities.” And he reminds them to adhere to the following ethical principles: to not get involved in fraud, speculations or black-market trading, epitomise trust and reliability, not to show greed and squander God's riches when enjoying them, show respect for the rights of the employees, not to forget that the society they live in should also benefit from their benefits and to live life aware of the fact that ultimately everything is given by God.

As for Gülen-inspired Turkish schools opened across the world, the article says focus is given to teaching sciences at these schools, quoting the principal of a Turkish school as saying.

Cengiz Karabekmez, the principal of the Amity School in Brooklyn, says the Gülen schools are not faith-based.

The article is concluded with remarks of Tevfik Emre Aksoy, a businessman acting according to Gülen's concept of pleasing God. “'God loves everyone', that is how Aksoy sums up his faith. ‘God loves in particular the good done by a person'.”

Gülen is highly respected both in Turkey and in many countries around the world for educational activities he has pioneered along with his efforts to promote intercultural and interfaith activities around the globe. He is in self-imposed exile in the US, although there is no legal hurdle that prevents him from returning to Turkey. Shortly after he went to the US in 2000, he was charged with establishing an illegal organization in Turkey but was eventually acquitted in 2008.

To an invitation to Turkey from Prime Minister Erdoğan in June, Gülen said he prefers staying in the US to “avoid damaging positive developments in Turkey.”

Published on Today's Zaman, 10 November 2012, Saturday

Posted in: Fethullah Gulen, Frankfurter Allgemeine, Germany, Gulen Movement