Fethullah Gulen Deplores Recent Attacks on Christians in Pakistan

September 27, 2013 – I am deeply saddened to learn about the bombing of a Christian church in Peshawar, Pakistan, which cost the lives 85 civilians and injured many others. I condemn this attack unequivocally and on this sad occasion reiterate my condemnation of all forms of terrorism regardless of perpetrators or their stated purposes.

Any form of attack, suppression or persecution of minorities is an act that contradicts the tradition of our Prophet upon whom be peace and blessings. Whether it is the senseless killings of innocent Christians in a Pakistan Church, the attacks on Coptic Christians in Egypt or the suppression of minority rights anywhere, Muslims should come out first in condemning these actions.

Every human being is created equal by God. Basic human rights, such as the right to life, to live in peace and to be treated with dignity, are sacred rights given by God. No suffering of Muslims can be used to justify inflicting suffering elsewhere on innocent civilians. In true Islamic thought ends never justify means.

I extend my heartfelt prayers to the injured, the families of the deceased and all of the people of Pakistan.

Read more of Fethullah Gulen’s statement.

FINANCIAL TIMES Op-ed by Fethullah Gulen: Violence is not in the tradition of the Prophet

By M. Fethullah Gülen

Muslims pray each day: “O Lord! Keep us on the straight path.” It is a prayer to help us move away from the extremes and maintain balance in our lives. We must neither be hostage to our reactionary instincts, nor must we remain completely silent in the face of the systematic defamation of our values and beliefs. This balance has been upset by the violent response to the insults targeting the legacy of beloved Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him). The violent response was wrong and strayed from the straight path.

Other op-eds and articles on Hizmet and Fethullah Gulen here

Muslims should not be indifferent with respect to the attacks on the Prophet (PBUH). On the contrary, they must show the utmost sensitivity and caution. Those insulting Islam might be seeking to depict a negative image of Muslims, and hence justify discrimination, isolation, persecution or deportation. The deliberate instigation and creation of turmoil in the Muslim world is not new. Our sacred values were attacked in the past through cartoons, today it is done through a movie and cartoons in a French magazine, and tomorrow other means may be used. Muslims must not be beguiled or enticed but instead must speak out to prevent those who are more easily provoked from resorting to violence.

The question that we should ask ourselves as Muslims is whether we have introduced Islam and its Prophet properly to the world. Have we followed his example in such a way as to instil admiration? We must do so, not with words, but with our actions.When any negative comment is made about the Prophet, however slight it may be, a Muslim should feel deep sorrow. Yet expressing that sorrow is a different matter. Irresponsible actions by individuals damage the image of Islam and destroy the very tradition they are claiming to defend.

Since the rights of every Muslim, as well as God, the Koran and the Prophet are at stake in such a circumstance, one cannot act recklessly. One should scrutinise the possible ramifications of each and every action, and seek the wisdom of the collective judgment.

If suicide bombers are the first things that come to people’s minds, how could they have a positive opinion of Islam? How is killing innocent civilians indiscriminately different from the barbarity suffered by Muslims in history? What is the rationale behind attacking an American consulate in Libya, killing an ambassador and consulate officers, who have nothing to do with this wretched movie? If it is Muslims who are carrying out these attacks, it means that they are entirely unaware of what Islam is all about and are committing the biggest crime in the name of Islam.

A Muslim must always be straightforward and consistent in his actions and words. He should respect the sacred values of Christians, Jews, Buddhists and others as he expects his own religion and values to be respected. In reacting, a Muslim should not sway from the proper middle path. Many correct forms of response can be found by appealing to the collective conscience of society and to the international community.

Hate speech designed to incite violence is an abuse of the freedom of expression. It violates the rights, dignity and freedoms of others while pushing humanity towards conflict in an age of horrifying weapons. Instead of falling victim to the instigation of others, we should appeal to the relevant international institutions, such as the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation or the UN, to intervene, expose and condemn instances of hate speech. We can do whatever it takes within the law to prevent any disrespect to all revered religious figure, not only to the Prophet Mohammed.

The attacks on the Prophet we have repeatedly experienced are to be condemned, but the correct response is not violence. Instead, we must pursue a relentless campaign to promote respect for the sacred values of all religions.

The writer is a Muslim scholar in the Sunni tradition and honorary chairman of the Istanbul-based Journalists and Writers Foundation

Original article here:http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/6ac625c0-07c6-11e2-9df2-00144feabdc0.html#ixzz27jNH2YIH

See also:STATEMENT BY FETHULLAH GULEN on attack on US embassy in Libya
http://rumiforum.blogspot.com/2012/09/statement-from-fethullah-gulen.html#axzz28XEVfPZs

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Academics: Interfaith dialogue is the only solution to Islamophobia - RUMI FORUM NOSTALGIA

Rumi Forum has been committed to overcoming misunderstanding between communities, another example from 2007.

Academics: Interfaith dialogue is the only solution to Islamophobia

Academics: Interfaith dialogue is the only solution to Islamophobia
Dr. Sidney Griffith of the Catholic University of America delivers a presentation titled
Dr. Sidney Griffith of the Catholic University of America delivers a presentation titled "Abraham in the 'Abrahamic' Religions: Theologies in Counterpoint" during the "Inter-Religious and Intercultural Discourse: Christians and Muslims in Dialogue" conference at the CUA.
In today's enduring atmosphere inter-religious contention, the Rumi Forum picked the American capital Washington D.C. as the venue for last week's conference "Inter-Religious and Intercultural Discourse: Christians and Muslims in Dialogue" at the Catholic University of America with the cooperation of the University's Semitics Department and Institute for Inter-Religious Study and Dialogue.


In his keynote speech, Dr. David Smock, vice president of USIP's Center for Mediation and Conflict Resolution, summarized the attributes that religious leaders and institutions can offer in promoting peace and reconciliation as follows:

Credibility as a trusted institution; a respected set of values; moral warrants for opposing injustice on the part of governments; unique leverage for promoting reconciliation among conflicting parties, including an ability to rehumanize situations that have become dehumanized over the course of protracted conflict; a capability to mobilize communities, nations and international support for a peace process; an ability to follow through locally in the wake of a political settlement; and a sense of calling that often inspires perseverance in the face of major.



Dr. Sidney Griffith of CUA, in his presentation titled "Abraham in the 'Abrahamic' Religions: Theologies in Counterpoint," said "Islam was born already in dialogue with Jews and Christians," and given their common origin in the prophet Abraham, Christians and Muslims should always approach each other as brothers "united by the same spirit of faith and sacrifice."....

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