Firsthand experience with Gulen movement leaves no doubts about its good intentions

It is well known, that in order to get rid of false prejudices and stereotypes, one has to get to know people who challenge those stereotypes and prejudices. American professor of sociology Helen Rose Ebaugh, who has written the book “The Gülen Movement: A Sociological Analysis of a Civic Movement Rooted in Moderate Islam”, believes that Gulen movement challenges unreasonable fears and false stereotypes about Islam as a religion of terrorism, violence and ignorance. “After 9/11 I was looking for Muslims who would speak up and challenge the terrorism. And 11 days after the attack, Mr. Fethullah Gulen protested the attack,” she said. Having conducted professional and deep research about Gulen movement, professor Ebaugh admits that she takes criticism about the movement quite seriously but she has never come across with any serious data supporting the criticism. Moreover, professor Ebaugh tells that she is very surprised with critics who are convinced that movement has some secret agenda, but who have never had any firsthand experience with people representing the movement.  Having met many people from Gulen movement, professor Ebaugh does not have any doubts regarding good intentions of the movement. Read rest of the story

Gulen movement challenges Islamophobia, contributes to peace

Helen Rose Ebaugh spent the last week on a book tour of Turkey. Her book on the Gulen Movement has brought attention to the many questions that are sometimes raised. From ‘where does the money come from’ to how people are organized and what motivates them. Ebaugh’s book has been long overdue and the article below emphasizes the positive impression the participants are making on members of the wider community through their positive role models and civic based service projects – such as schools and intercultural centers. Read rest of the story

Readers flooded AnkaMall for Dr. Ebaugh’s booksigning event

Nowadays, Dr. Helen Rose Ebaugh of the University of Houston is one of the most prominent public figures in Turkey. What contributed to Dr. Ebaugh’s reputation in a country that is located thousands of miles away from her  hometown is the latest book she has written about the Gulen Movement: ‘The Gulen Movement: A Sociological Analysis of a Civic Movement Rooted in Moderate Islam’. The book was recently translated into Turkish and apparently proved to be very popular.

Last week, her publisher, Dogan Kitap, organized a book-signing event for Dr. Ebaugh and the event  attracted literally thousands of readers to the shopping mall. Ebaugh said she was very surprised to see the crowd when she came to the bookstore, noting that she was particularly surprised by young people’s interest in her book. Ebaugh said that she has written the book for people in Western countries who do not know about the Gulen movement. She said what attracted her to the movement was Fethullah Gulen‘s condemnation published in The Washington Post in the wake of the 9/11 attacks.

Among many interviews with Dr. Ebaugh that appeared in the Turkish media recently, following one is the most knowledgeable: An Interview with Helen Rose Ebaugh
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A Must-Attend Conference in Indonesia: ‘The Significance of Education for the Future’

‘The centerpiece of the Gulen Movement are the Gulen-inspired Schools that exist throughout Turkey and in approximately 100 countries throughout the world, located on 5 continents.’ states Dr. Helen Rose Ebaugh in her recent book;’The Gulen Movement: A Sociological Analysis of a Civic Movement Rooted in Moderate Islam’.

Although many reputable journals, like Forbes, NY Times and Prospect Magazine have taken note of Fethullah Gulen and many service projects that are inspired by him, the signature achievement of the movement has not received enough attention yet. Actually, given the ignorance that plagued many countries, no attention would be ‘enough’ regarding any kind of education efforts.

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Interview with Helen Rose Ebaugh on the Gulen Movement

Dr Helen Ebaugh offers a great insight in an interview with Qantara.de into the ideas of Fethullah Gulen and the movement that has formed around his ideas. Read rest of the story