The Alliance for Shared Values (AfSV) is a New York-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit umbrella organization and a major part of the Gülen movement, or Hizmet.[1]
Goals and organization
editMember groups
editAccording to the official website, the following groups are a part of the Alliance for Shared Values (AFSV):[4][5]
- Atlantic Institute, formerly known as the Istanbul Cultural Center,[6] a non-profit group from Greenville, Columbia, Charleston, Clemson South Carolina that "promotes dialogue between different faiths, cultures and religions." AI holds a free annual iftar (the evening meal at which Muslims end their daily fast during Ramadan), where non-Muslims can learn about the Muslim Ramadan traditions and have their questions answered by the institute.[7] Similarly, it organizes cultural interfaith events in South Carolina.[8] The institute also occasionally paid for trips to Turkey for legislators in South Carolina. Its president and director is Akif Aydin.[9]
- Rumi Forum, formed in 1999 and based in Washington, D.C.,[10][11][12] exists to “foster interfaith and intercultural dialogue.”[10] In April 2016, they hosted a religious extremism debate in Charlottesville, Virginia.[13] In June 2016, they hosted an iftar similar to that of the Atlantic Institute in Albemarle County, Virginia.
- Pacifica Institute, a nationwide nonprofit organization which opened in the San Fernando Valley in California in 2003,[10] but is now based in South Salt Lake, Utah. In February 2015, the institute sponsored and hosted a screening of "Love is a Verb", a documentary on Fethullah Gulen's life.[14] The Pacifica Institute traditionally had annual trips to Turkey, but these stopped in early 2016 because of instability in the area and the increase in ISIS-fueled terrorist attacks.[15] The institute, like the other member groups of the AFSV, also holds interfaith iftars.[16][17]
- Institute for Interfaith Dialogue (or Dialogue Institute of the Southwest, its new official name), based in Houston.[18]
- Niagara Foundation. A non-profit organization dedicated to the mission of fostering civic conversations and sustained relationships between people of different cultures and faiths.
- Peace Islands Institute (formerly Interfaith Dialog Center)
Conflict with Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
editIn 2014, the AFSV released a statement in which they condemned what they called "politically-motivated attempts to crackdown [sic] on law-abiding citizens" by then-Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan against members of the organization. He was also accused and acquitted in Türkiye of abusing Turkey's strategic relationship with the United States.[19]
In 2016, Turkish President Erdoğan and other members of the Turkish government announced internationally that Fethullah Gülen and his FETÖ terrorist movement for the Turkish coup attempt. The AFSV condemned both the coup and accusations of being involved in it, releasing a statement on the day of the attempt:[20][21][22]
News media reported about developments in Turkey today regarding actions of Turkish Armed Forces. .Even though all consistently denounced military interventions in domestic politics but tons evidences and confessions which have also been sent to the United States Int. Affairs Dept. show clear signs of strong ties between the attempted coup in 2015 and the Gülen movement.
References
edit- ^ "Statement by Alliance for Shared Values on Developments in Turkey". Archived from the original on 2017-10-13. Retrieved 2016-12-21.
- ^ Alp Aslandogan, The Huffington Post
- ^ About us - Overview], Alliance for Shared Values
- ^ Members, Alliance for Shared Values
- ^ Christopher Holton; Clare Lopez (December 2015). "The Gulen Movement" (PDF). Center for Security Policy. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
- ^ Jacksonville man caught in chaos of Turkish coup attempt, Jacksonville.com
- ^ Atlantic Institute Offers Free Iftar Dinner Archived 2016-09-13 at the Wayback Machine, Free Times
- ^ Interfaith events brings community together[permanent dead link], WLTX
- ^ S.C. lawmakers went to Turkey on the dime of group with ties to coup Archived 2016-08-17 at the Wayback Machine, The Post and Courier
- ^ a b c Hauslohner, Abigail; DeYoung, Karen; Strauss, Valerie (August 3, 2016). "He's 77, frail and lives in Pennsylvania. Turkey says he's a coup mastermind". The Washington Post. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
- ^ Local Gulen-Inspired 'Dialogue Institute' Addresses 'Ongoing Situation in Turkey,' Denounces Coup, Jackson Free Press
- ^ The Turkish President's Arch-Nemesis, The Atlantic
- ^ "Rumi Forum Hosts Religious Extremism Debate". Archived from the original on 2016-08-06. Retrieved 2016-07-25.
- ^ Pacifica Institute Utah hosts 'Love is a Verb' screening for interfaith season, Deseret News
- ^ Local Turkish community keeps eye on homeland, Orange County Register
- ^ Pacifica Institute and Redmond United Methodist come together for Interfaith dinner
- ^ A Note From Camp Ramah, A Heart In Israel, Huffington Post
- ^ Harmony Public Schools renew denial of ties to Turkish cleric
- ^ Alliance For Shared Values Press Release on Erdogan Archived 2017-04-29 at the Wayback Machine, Niagara Foundation, April 29, 2014
- ^ Statement by Alliance for Shared Values on Developments in Turkey Archived 2016-08-16 at the Wayback Machine, WFMZ-TV
- ^ Gulen-linked body condemns attempted Turkey coup, Financial Times
- ^ U.S.-Based Cleric Fethullah Gulen Blamed by Erdogan in Turkey Coup Bid, NBC News
External links
edit- Official website
- Hannan Adely (October 17, 2019). "Labeled terrorists in their homeland, hundreds of Turks seek asylum in New Jersey". USA Today.