February 23, 2018 – I was saddened to learn of the passing of Rev. Billy Graham, a renowned man of faith who reached hundreds of millions with his inclusive messages in service of world peace. After 9/11, when asked about the possibility of a struggle between Islam and Christianity, he underlined that humanity’s struggle is against hunger, starvation and poverty. At critical times, Rev. Graham courageously voiced his support for values such as the equality of all humanity and our duty to treat every person with dignity — values shared by Muslims and all major world faith traditions. With his departure he leaves a gap that is hard to fill.
I send my condolences to his family and loved ones. May God give patience and perseverance to them. In line with Rev. Graham’s legacy, may God enable preachers and leaders of all world faiths to disseminate inclusive messages that serve the human family.

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.

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Statement in Turkish