February 15, 2018 – I am deeply saddened by the tragic shooting at a high school in Parkland, Florida, that took the lives of 17 people, including teachers and students.

It is heartbreaking to see such a tragedy take place at a school, which should provide a safe environment in which students can learn. We should treat such incidents as reminders to our society for self examination and for identifying and eliminating the conditions that lead a young person to engage in horrifying acts of violence. We should strive to provide a climate of love, respect, and compassion to all of our children and nurture an inclusive mindset.

I express my deepest condolences to all those who lost their loved ones during this tragedy, and to the people of Florida. I pray to God, the Most Compassionate, to provide comfort for the parents who lost their children and to lead our society to days of peace and tranquility. 

About Fethullah Gülen

Fethullah Gülen is an Islamic scholar, preacher and social advocate, whose decades‐long commitment to education, interfaith dialogue and altruism has inspired millions in Turkey and around the world. Gülen is the honorary chairman of the Rumi Forum, Washington, DC and the Intercultural Dialogue Platform, Brussels, Belgium.

About Alliance for Shared Values

The Alliance for Shared Values (AFSV) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that serves as a voice for cultural organizations affiliated with Hizmet, a civil society movement inspired by prominent preacher and peace advocate Fethullah Gülen. The Alliance strives to promote peace and social harmony by helping reduce misinformation and false stereotypes about any or all ethnic, cultural and religious communities. To learn more about the Alliance, please visit www.afsv.org.

Media contact

media@afsv.org

212-682-4278

Statement in pdf

Statement in Turkish