My, oh, my! I have read all the back and forth about Mr. F. Guelen. He seems to excite passions one way or the other. From a religious view point, one can either accept his teachings or not. That's simple. There are plenty of Christians and other religious types traipsing around the world trying to sell their brand of religious life.

From a political viewpoint it is a cheap shot to characterize him as "dangerous" without supporting that accusation with very specific facts and evidence. I see him as a moderate - one who tries to reconcile Islamic Culture with modernity. For those who insist that his approach is some kind of a "trick", I like to see your proof of that.

There always have been and always will be deep differences between all sorts of people concerning serious subjects like religion, culture, and politics. The key to a stable society is that these differences be expressed in an orderly way, e.g. in democratic processes. The alternative is violence and anarchy - which noone claims Guelen promotes.

In 2000, the Turkish haute couture designer Faruk Saraç produced a special at the Hagia Irene. A collection of 700 designed pieces inspired by the Ottoman sultans, including the robes of 36 sultans ranging from Osman Gazi, the founder of the Ottoman Empire to Sultan Vahdettin, the last sultan, were on display. The show was accompanied by music and the story of the sultans' lives and demonstrations of Ottoman-era dancing.
Wikipedia

Please explain Turkish signs of respect. Just as an example if a Turk takes a persons hand and holds it to his forehead.

Thank you Yilgun, Seyit and especially Lady in Red for the eye opener article.

I was not aware that Turkey uses hanging for the death penalty. I had no idea about these persons, i.e. Deniz:
http://www.denizgezmis.hyves.nl/

Gernas, kindly send me the link which states "23 injured and 3 murdered".
Not here:

http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=586978

Belching smoke, our Silk Roads "special" sped shrieking through the Asian suburbs of Istanbul, past knots of wide-eyed, waving children fascinated by the unusual sight and sound and smell of an enormous black coal-fired steam locomotive. It was an exciting start to an extraordinary journey. In the weeks that followed we were to travel the longest "road" on earth: 9,600 kilometers (6,000 miles) across Turkey, the southern Soviet Union and China, from one end of the ancient Silk Roads to the other.

En route, we would see unique sights: Cappadocia's fantasy landscape of "fairy chimneys" and China's Great Wall. We would visit legendary caravan cities - Bukhara, Samarkand and Kashgar - and meet exotic people: daring Kazak horsemen and dazzling Uzbek dancers. We would cross unfriendly frontiers normally closed, and be feted in cities usually forbidden to foreigners.

http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/198804/the.silk.roads-a.history.htm

http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/198804/the.royal.road.htm

Cold Turkey as Germany jumps for joy

http://www.soccerway.com/news/2008/June/25/cold-turkey-as-germany-jumps-for-joy

The armies of the Ottoman Empire could not conquer Vienna. Eleven soccer players from Turkey can.
That's the way many Turks feel, a heady, near-mystical sense that Turkey's underdog run to the European Championship semifinals involves more than goal scoring. To these fans, it's about pride and patriotism; ethnic identity and insecurity; centuries of conflict and coexistence; and the prickly, modern-day relationship between Turks and the West.

"There is an unwritten condition here in this country, the desire to show to the world what the Turks can do as a soft power," said Huseyin Bagci, a Turkish academic. "The Turks are bringing a new flair to Europe. It's like putting something spicy into food."

But it's not just us versus them. The team has showcased Turkish skill, tenacity and — even the most fanatic of fans grudgingly admit — mind-bending luck in comeback wins against the Swiss, Czechs and Croats.

Turkey's opponent in Basel, Switzerland, on Wednesday is Germany, home to nearly 3 million Turks, some of whom moved there as "gastarbeiter," or guest workers, for low-paying jobs in the 1960s. Two of Turkey's top players, Hamit Altintop and Hakan Balta, grew up in Germany, came through Germany's soccer system and play for Bundesliga teams.
http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,5143,700237673,00.html

Fethullah Gülen, Islamist, Acquitted

Fethullah Gülen, a famous Islamist leader and source of inspiration for Turkey’s Islamists (parties and individuals), has been acquitted in a final ruling of the General Council of the Supreme Court of Appeals of Turkey yesterday.

He was ’sued over allegations that he established an illegal organization to change the secular structure of Turkey and found a state based on religious rules instead. Gülen was sued under the anti-terrorism law. Ankara’s 11th Court for Serious Crimes decided in favor of Gülen’s acquittal and the ninth branch of the Supreme Court of Appeals confirmed the decision.’

This means that he can travel to Turkey whenever he wants to. He’s free to go where he wants to go, he’s free to meet with people he wants to meet.

What can be said about Gülen (ignore this article at Wikipedia; it’s clearly written by supporters of the man)? Well, most Turks will know about him. Most Turks know who he is, and what he stands for. Most secular Turks both despise and fear him.

He has influenced a lot of people, including politicians. His agenda is clear; he wants to bring Islam back into politics. He wants to Islamize the government. (...)
PoliGazette June 25 2008
By Michael van der Galien