The Ramadan Iftar series continued in 2014 with Rumi Forum hosting various organizations and groups from media, think tanks, academia, government, embassies and NGOs at the Rumi Forum and with Turkish American families.

1. Home Iftars
Rumi Forum hosted members of the media, think tanks, academia, government, embassies and NGOs with the Turkish American families.
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2. Rumi Forum Signature Iftars
On Wednesday, July 9th 2014, Rumi Forum hosted its annual Signature Ramadan Dinner with Turkic American Alliance. Over 80 VIP guests attended this event. In addition, Rumi Forum organized large group Iftars for Turkey trip participants and numerous other organizations in Washington, DC.

3. Organizational Iftars Rumi Forum organized institutional dialogue and dinner nights on the occasion of Ramadan 2014. Numerous organization participated amongst are: National Press Club, Department of Education, US Attorney's Office (Alexandria), Pew Research, CSIS, Wilson Center, Truman National Security Project and the British Council.

4. Ambassadors Iftars
During the month of Ramadan in 2014, Rumi Forum hosted various countries in honor of their Ambassadors and Embassy staff at the American Turkish Friendship Association (ATFA) in Fairfax, VA. Rumi Forum also organized leaders and members of the Turkish community to play a part in the discussions during the Ramadan dinners. Ambassadors and Embassy staff from the following countries participated in the Ramadan Iftars and spoke in regards to issues of diversity and intercultural understanding: Embassy of New Zealand, Malaysia, Philippines, Tanzania, Albania, Montenegro, Senegal, Bahamas and Fiji.

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On July 19, the Rumi Forum organized the first ever Suhoor program in Washington DC. Friends and colleagues of the organization were invited to an early Suhoor breakfast, sharing in this important Islamic tradition.

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In the celebration of the Eid, Rumi Forum hosted a lunch on August 4. Distinguished guests from think tanks, academia, media, government and embassies attended the program.

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Rumi Forum organized several study trips to Turkey in May and June 2014. The trips aimed to provide broad exposure to Turkish culture and to promote mutual understanding between the participants and Turkish counterparts through dialogue and discussion. Individuals from various local think-tanks; city and government officials; business leaders; and media representatives were among those visited during the trip.

The Rumi Forum invited PhD candidates and those who have recently completed their doctorates in the areas of social science, for a study fellowship program, which incorporated study tours to Turkey in May and June with the mission of exploring social, economic, cultural, security and political issues in the country and the wider region.

One of the Rumi Forum trips in June 2014 was organized in cooperation with Truman National Security Project fellows in media, a cooperative effort between the two organizations since 2010.

In addition to Turkey, the Rumi Forum also organized a study trip to Kyrgyzstan in June 2014 to introduce participants to the people, culture, local issues and current and ongoing developments in the regions. The groups visited 3 or 4 of the following cities in Turkey: Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Antalya, Gaziantep, Diyarbakir, Urfa and Kilis.

I deplore the brutal atrocities being committed by the ISIS terrorist group hiding behind a false religious rhetoric and join the people of conscience from around the world in calling for these perpetrators to immediately cease their cruel and inhuman acts. Any form of attack, suppression or persecution of minorities or innocent civilians is an act that contradicts the principles of the Qur’an and the tradition of our Prophet upon whom be peace and blessings.

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Rumi Forum Condemns Killing of the Journalist James Foley

The Rumi Forum condemns, in the strongest terms, the killing of journalist James Foley by the terrorist group ISIS. This heinous act is a despicable crime against humanity, peace, and democracy and represents no religion, as no faith teaches people to massacre innocents.

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Let`s Rally for the Syrian Refugees

There are officially more than 1.4 Million Syrian refugees living in Turkey. Your contribution will go to Embrace Relief, which will support the Turkish relief organization of Kimse Yok Mu (KYM), which is working on the ground to coordinate food, beds, clothing and educational needs for Syrians taking refuge in Turkey.
Rumi Forum and Embrace Relief is organizing a help campaign for Syrian Refugees with a goal of $15,000. The Syrian refugee crisis has already gone on too long. Your donation, in any dollar amount, will go far and is greatly needed!

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Hizmet Essay Contest 2014: The Hizmet Movement and Solutions to Today’s Problems

The Hizmet Essay Contest is a contest series that encourages research on the Hizmet movement and Fethullah Gulen. The contest aims to motivate individuals to research the works of Fethullah Gulen and the activities of various Hizmet institutions locally and globally, with the purpose of addressing how the Hizmet movement contributes to the individual, the community, society and the world in general.
Registration Please register your interest via the link below. Further details and updates will be sent to those registered. Registration is important and should be considered the first step. There is no fee or cost to register or submit an essay. Register Here

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Wrestling with Free Speech, Religious Freedom, and Democracy in Turkey: The Political Trials and Times of Fethullah Gulen with James C Harrington

In a luncheon at Rumi Forum, a human rights attorney and founder and director of the Texas Civil Rights Project, James C Harrington, talked about the political trial of Fethullah Gülen, a moderate Turkish religious scholar and leader, at the turn of the 21st Century, which helped greatly to expand civil liberties and strengthen democracy in Turkey.

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Cross-cultural Dialogue on the Virtues: The Contribution of Fethullah Gülen by Trudy D. Conway

This book explores the development of the Hizmet movement. It provides a detailed study of Gülen’s account of the virtues and argues that they provide the key to understanding this thinker and the movement he inspired, from its initial establishment of hospitality houses through the growth of worldwide schools, hospitals, media outlets, charitable associations and dialogue centers.

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Atlas of Thoughts

A new TV series in Turkey, produced by Irmak TV, interviewed scholars of different perspectives and from diverse backgrounds about the Hizmet Movement and Fethullah Gulen. The purpose of this interview series was to convey how the Hizmet Movement and its activities are perceived worldwide, by offering a variety of insights.

See videos below

Dr. Frances Hassencahl; Assoc. Professor of Communication & Theatre Arts, Old Dominion University

Dr. Roberta Rosenberg, Professor of English, Christopher Newport University

Don Daniel, Adjunct Professor, Center for Security Studies, Georgetown University

Rev. Steve Jolly, Department of Sociology, Old Dominion University

Margaret Johnson, Senior Research Associate, Institute of Islamic and Turkish Studies (IITS)

Karina Korostelina, Assoc. Professor of Conflict Analysis and Resolution, George Mason University

Ambassador Chas Freeman Part I

Ambassador Chas Freeman Part II

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Turkish Classes

Learn Turkish in Washington, DC! Experienced teachers are offering Turkish Language Classes at the Rumi Forum in Washington, DC. If you are looking for Turkish lessons in the DC Metropolitan Area, Rumi Forum is the right place to begin. There are three terms in a year

• Turkish language classes are open to everyone who is interested.
• The classes are arranged based on the number of students interested in at any level.
• Our teachers are using a Turkish Language Book Set written in Turkish.

For the intensive program: A four-hour class per week and eight classes in a month.

For further queries and application form please email: turkish@rumiforum.org

Visit the 'Learn Turkish' blog

WATCH PROMOTIONAL VIDEO

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Rumi Forum Internship Program

We are always considering applications for our internship program (dates are flexible and negotiable) Eligibility: All undergraduate and master’s-level students and J.D. and Ph.D. candidates as well as recent graduates are eligible to apply. Application Process: In order to apply for a Rumi Forum Internship, please fill out this application form. You may send any supporting documents such as CVs, resumes etc to internships@rumiforum.org. Please note that you need to fill out the application form first before sending any documents. Read More .

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DONATE TO RUMI FORUM

Rumi Forum now accepts donation through a new service via Paypal. The Rumi Forum, a NGO that is a non-profit exempt organization under section 501 (C)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code exists by way of contributions, donations and the volunteers that enable it to provide numerous services to better society at large. Your contributions are appreciated and play an important part in the Rumi Forum increasing social harmony and understanding.

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