Rumi Forum hosted the premiere gala of the documentary "Love is a Verb" featuring the director and the producer of the film, Terry Spencer Hesser at E Street Cinema in downtown Washington, DC. "Love is a Verb" is a new film by Terry Spencer Hesser documenting people living the idea of love as a verb through their work in "Hizmet", a social movement inspired by Islamic scholar and teacher, Fethullah Gulen. The film recently received the "Best Documentary Award" at the Maryland International Film Festival and was selected for the USA Film Festival in Dallas, Texas.

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The 2014 Rumi Forum Social Issues Conference were held at Georgetown University`s Copley Formal Lounge. This conference aims to highlight critical social, pedagogical and civic issues as they relate to the pre-K to 12 U.S. educational systems in the 21st century. Early education and K-12 areas were discussed, in light of causes, effects and, in particular, solutions at a local and national level. The event was attended by stakeholders from across the education sector–public schools, colleges, universities and research and non-profit organizations. Within the panel sessions, topics discussed included education advocacy, knowledge exchange, early childhood, social media and technology, student achievement and performance, improving educational outcomes and investment in youth and teachers.

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Rumi Forum and Gulen Institute jointly organized Youth Platform Award Ceremony at the Capitol Hill, Rayburn HOB. Thirty finalists from around the world gathered in Washington, DC to discuss their essays and participate in the Youth Platform Award Ceremony jointly organized by Rumi Forum and the Gulen Institute.

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Rumi Forum organized a study trip to Turkey in Spring 2014. Selected trip members attended and presented at “The Caucasus and Central Asia in the Globalization Process Conference” for two days hosted by Qafqaz University in Baku, Azerbaijan. Prior to the conference, trip members had a chance to tour different parts of Turkey in following cities: Istanbul, Ankara, Konya, and Gaziantep. Individuals of various local think-tanks; city and government officials; business leaders; and media representatives were among those visited during the trip.

Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gulen has extended condolences for victims of the coal mine blast in western Turkish town of Soma, wishing speedy recovery for injured workers. "They were working in the most dire conditions to make the ends meet for their families," Gulen said about the victims, adding that no word would be a consolation and no word would express the pain of separation. "We can do nothing except pray for them and share their pains with wept eyes," Gulen stressed. He wished that trapped mine workers will be saved soon.

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"Hizmet in Africa: The Activities and Significance of the Gulen Movement” with Ambassador David H Shinn

Rumi Forum has started a new series on the Hizmet movement. The first in the series was held with Ambassador David Shinn, former US Ambassador to Ethiopia and Burkina Faso. Ambassador Shinn discussed the activities of Gulen/Hizmet Movement in Africa. Ambassador Shinn touched on the implications of the multifaceted activities in North and Sub-Saharan Africa of the followers of Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gulen. There are more than 100 Gulen-inspired primary, middle and secondary schools in Africa and the number is growing rapidly. Some African cities have a Gulen-affiliated dialogue or interfaith center and organization of businessmen who follow Gulen’s principles. There is a global charitable organization, “Kimse Yok Mu”, that has extensive operations in Africa. The Gulen-affiliated media organizations based in Turkey and New Jersey are also reaching out to Africa.

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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 his talk Jim Harrington explored Fethullah Gulen's trial, which started in 2000 and ended in 2008. He examined the evolving process of Turkey’s efforts to enter the European Union, and discussed ways that the EU’s insistence on expanding civil liberties in Turkey and reforming the judicial system affected the outcome of the trial (and vice versa). He also discussed how the Gülen movement has helped the progress of democracy and civil society in Turkey and its prospects for the future, especially in light of the current government’s sustained attacks on civil and human rights generally, and on Gulen himself and Hizmet in particular.

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“Spain’s Contributions to Intercultural and Interreligious Dialog and Tolerance” with Ambassador Belen Alfaro

Spain's Ambassador-at-large for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), Belen Alfaro, talked about Spain`s history through the contributions to the intercultural and interfaith dialogue and from UNAOC initiative perspective, which seeks to galvanize international action against extremism through the forging of international, intercultural and interreligious dialogue and cooperation. The luncheon was moderated by Spain`s Ambassador to the U.S. (2000-2004), Javier Ruperez, Senior Adviser at the Europe Program of Centre for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS).

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Socio-Economic Development and the Post-Election Situation in Bangladesh with Ambassador Akramul Qader

In his remarks, Bangladesh's Ambassador to the U.S., Akramul Qader, talked about both the amazing socio-economic developments of Bangladesh in the recent years and highlight the much-debated post-election political situation in Bangladesh. Bringing in his four-decades of experiences to operate in international arena as a career diplomat, he touched upon important historical events that shaped today’s Bangladesh, and highlighted the values and principles that encompass the socio-cultural life of the people of Bangladesh. The talk was moderated by Alyssa Ayres, Senior Fellow for India, Pakistan, and South Asia at the Council on Foreign Relations. She served most recently as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia during 2010–2013.

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Rumi Forum-ATFA Abrahamic Table: Social Justice in Theology and Practice - the Abrahamic Traditions

The Rabbi Batya Steinlauf, The Rev. Dr. Carol Flett and Aisha Rahman, Esq. discussed social justice in theology and practice at the American Turkish Friendship Association (ATFA) in Fairfax, VA. The panel was moderated by Jena Luedtke of the Rumi Forum.

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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

Visit here for more information and registration

Fethullah Gulen's BBC Interview

Fethullah Gulen, honorary President of Rumi Forum, was recently interview by the BBC News. The interview was first in 16 years. See below links for the interview and related articles.

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Fethullah Gulen's WSJ Interview

Fethullah Gulen's recent interview with the Wall Street Journal on January 21 2014

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Rumi Forum broadcasting on 4 TV Stations

DC TV: Comcast 95, RCN 10, Verizon10
schedule here

Arlington TV:Comcast 69, Verizon 38

Fairfax TV: Cox 30, Verizon 30

Montgomery TV: Verizon 19,21 Cox 19,21, RCN 19,21

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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

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Rumi Forum Internship Program

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 submit the following:

· Cover Letter and Resume

· College or University Transcript

· 2-3 References (please provide both the phone and email contact information and please include a Professor or other individual familiar with your work)


*starting dates are flexible

Please send materials via email to

internships@rumiforum.org 

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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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