Ramadan iftar tent drew crowds in Virginia

For the second year in a row, American Turkish Friendship Association (ATFA) and the Fairfax Chapter of the Rumi Forum have established a Ramadan Iftar Tent in Virginia. More than two thousand Virginians including House Delegates and Senators enjoyed the fast-breaking dinners between August 26th and August 28th, 2010.

During the three day event, not only iftar dinners have been served but also post-iftar entertainments amused the guests. It was the first time in Northern Virginia that such a big crowd gathered to celebrate Ramadan together. Read rest of the story

A new blog started by the Rumi Forum

A new blog started by the Rumi Forum, an organization inspired by Fethullah Gulen‘s ideas on dialogue and tolerance will add to the social networking landscape with commentary and news on Fethullah Gulen and interfaith news.

Rumi Forum – welcome to our blog

We hope to by way of this blog let you the reader find out a little bit more about the Rumi Forum. Our activities – past and present, videos, photos, new books and some insight and opinions on numerous topics including intercultural and interfaith dialogue, social policy, multiculturalism, community harmony, conflict resolution, social responsibility, overcoming prejudice and increasing respect amongst numerous others. Read rest of the story

MARTI-Rockville holds annual Ramadan iftar dinner

Maryland American-Turkish Inhabitants (MARTI) hosted an iftar dinner in Rockville attended by many community members, diplomats, businessmen and government officials. Distinguished guests at the event included former US Ambassador David Newton, County Executive Ike Leggett, Maryland’s Secretary of State John Patrick McDonough and State Department’s Director of the Office of International Religious Freedom Peter Kovach. Read rest of the story

A Statement from Ephesus

From the Participants in the Rumi Forum’s May 17-25, 2006, Tour of Turkey

We, the participants in the Rumi Forum‘s May 17-25, 2006, visit to Turkey, come to Ephesus with a deep respect for the rich religious heritage it contains.  Sacred as a shrine for ancient Greeks and Romans, Ephesus was home to a thriving Jewish community in the first century, C.E.  Many in the city welcomed Paul the Apostle, and according to church tradition Ephesus became the home of John the Evangelist and Mary the mother of Jesus.  For centuries Ephesus has been an important place of pilgrimage for generations of Christians and Muslims coming to honor Mary, the only woman named by her own name in the Qur’an and the only woman for whom a sura (or chapter) of the Qur’an is named.  Mary, a Jewish woman of faith who became the revered mother of Christians and Muslims, calls us to worship the one God and to develop healthy relationships with followers of all religious paths. Read rest of the story

Dialogue instead of clash of civilizations

Before coming to Washington DC’s Rumi Forum, I was heading the Australian Intercultural Society (AIS) based out of Melbourne. This article reflects the great contribution to social harmony and peace building as reflected in and inspired by the thoughts of Fethullah Gulen. Read rest of the story

A year of Anticipation Ahead

This is what each and every one in Turkey exactly feels about the Turkish Olympiads:  a whole year of anticipation ahead before the new contest takes place in May, 2011. Improving itself every year, Turkish Olympiads have reached to 120 countries in 2010. 750 winners have been selected among thousands of contestants in their own countries in 16 different categories. Thus, all the students competing in Turkey were already champions. But the final contests, which helped the jury to choose the champions of the champions were beyond perfection.

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