At the three-day meeting of the Abant Platform to discuss Africa, participants from both Africa and Turkey agreed to intensify cooperation based on their mutual respect, goodwill and understanding.
Turkish scholar Fethullah Gulen broke a self-imposed 16-year broadcast silence and spoke to BBC about his home country Turkiye.
Zeki Saritoprak of John Carroll University presents his paper which focuses on love of Prophet in Fethullah Gulen’s life, thought, and mysticism through an academic approach. After discussing briefly major predecessors of Gulen in this regard from early periods, Saritoprak examine Gulen’s own writings including his description of the “Infinite Light”, Prophet Muhammad.
Former United States Ambassador to Iraq and Yemen, David Newton of Middle East Institute, speaks on Fethullah Gulen and Gulen Movement. With a particular focus on his experiences during his post in the Arab region, Newton points to the need for a modern interpretation of Islam, which can be addressed by the initiatives of the Gulen Movement that are well underway in the region and worldwide. Newton is in the hope that the region can benefit the ideas of Fethullah Gulen which encourage service in the name of education, modernism and science, for good.
Dignitaries gathered in New York for the Turkish Cultural Center and Council of Turkish American Association's 4th Annual Friendship dinner. The event brought out big names in Turkish and American politics.
George Mason University professor, Jack Goldstone, shares his view of Fethullah Gulen and the Gulen Movement. Goldstone says he is particularly glad that Gulen has such a remarkable influence over his sympathizers who are committed to the promotion of interfaith dialogue, charity and nonviolence. Speaking of Gulen's anti-violence stance, Goldstone recalls Gulen’s touching statement, as he puts it, condemning Boston bombings, which is a notable example of his efforts in favor of peace.
A symposium entitled called "Dreaming for a Better World: Contributions of Gulen Movement” was held in the capital of Canada. A large number of attendees discussed the importance of the Gulen Movement in the fields of education, peace and dialogue throughout the world.
The Turkic American Alliance in Washington, D.C. hosted a traditional iftar dinner, inviting the community to break the day's fast together. Dr. Faruk Taban, President, TAA: "That's the whole meaning of the month of Ramadan. To get together with the families and friends, even the very diverse population."
It was a gathering of about 200 people July 9 at Westchester Reform Temple in Scarsdale, awaiting sunset at 8:31 p.m. when the day’s fast of Ramadan could be broken with a festive Turkish-style dinner.
Loreena McKennitt expressed her appreciation of Fethullah Gulen’s ideas at Intercultural Dialogue Institute (IDI) Toronto Friendship Dinner. In her remarks, she recalled Gulen’s call for love, compassion, forgiveness and celebration of diversity for which she reaffirmed her full support. 
International Turkish Hope School was established in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, in 1996, and it was officially opened by former President Süleyman Demirel in March 1997. Initially located in only one campus with just a few students, the school now has about 2 thousand students at several campuses - in Dhaka,Chittagong and in Bogra.
"Though coming from different civilisational backgrounds and having different personal biographies, in their thinking both Toynbee and Gülen stand against ways of thinking and acting that promote what can all too easily become the illusion that the uncomfortable plurality of the contemporary world can be abolished. Against such illusions Gülen warns that: “…different beliefs, races, customs and traditions will continue to cohabit in this village. Each individual is like a unique realm unto themselves; therefore the desire for all humanity to be similar to one another is nothing more than wishing for the impossible. For this reason, the peace of this (global) village lies in respecting all these differences, considering these differences to be part of our nature and in ensuring that people appreciate these differences. Otherwise, it is unavoidable that the world will devour itself in a web of conflicts, disputes, fights, and the bloodiest of wars, thus preparing the way for its own end.”
Fethullah Gulen has always been an ardent advocate of peace no matter what issue, country or region is in question. Specifically, on the Kurdish issue, which is constantly high on agenda in Turkey, Gulen explicitly repeats his call for dialogue and education in resolution of the problems. According to Gulen, friendly relations between the people of the region will help restore past unity and peace the region enjoyed, which resonates with the opinion leaders and businessmen involved in the resolution of the problems.
