Fethullah Gulen - EastWest Institute's 2011 Peacebuilding Award - In the News

(Video Duration: 2 mins. 40 secs.)

Hundreds gathered in New York City this week - for the 30th anniversary of the East/West Institute. The Global organization works to create dialogue between different cultures. And this year -- the group honored Turkish scholar Fethullah Gulen with a prestigious award.

Gulen also sent a message to the event, which was read by Asli Bilici on his behalf.

Full text of Gülen's message:

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Fethullah Gulen - EastWest Institute's 2011 Peacebuilding Award - Background

(Video Duration: 3 mins 5 secs.)

Fethullah Gülen, well-respected Turkish intellectual and scholar, was named for the The EastWest Institute's (EWI) 2011 Peace Building Award at an awards dinner held in New York on 10 May 2011, Tuesday for his contribution to world peace.

Journalists and Writers Foundation (GYV) President Mustafa Yeşil received the prestigious award on behalf of Gülen. In a message he sent to the ceremony, Gülen said he accepted the award not on behalf of himself but on behalf of numerous volunteers, among whom he sees himself.

Gülen is a Turkish Islamic scholar well known for his teachings promoting mutual understanding and tolerance between cultures. One of the world's most influential Islamic scholars, Gülen came out at the top of the list of “The World's Top 20 Public Intellectuals” by the magazines Foreign Policy and Prospect in 2008. Now residing in the US, Gülen has pioneered educational activities in a number of countries along with efforts to promote intercultural and interfaith activities around the world. He has written nearly 50 books in Turkish, some of them translated into several languages.

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