Statement on the Hizmet Movement’s Principled Stance on Political Matters
November 4, 2026– Recent developments regarding the Hizmet Movement’s stance on political matters have led some to link the Movement directly to the individual choices of Hizmet participants. Personal statements and actions by certain Hizmet participants or supporters have been portrayed as reflecting the Movement’s collective position.
Freedom of thought and expression is a fundamental democratic right. However, language that is confrontational, polarizing, or serves as a vehicle for the rhetoric of any political viewpoint or ideology is incompatible with the Movement’s core values.
As stated in “The Core Values of the Hizmet Movement,” shared with the public on September 21, 2021 [1]: “Hizmet is a civil society movement and acts independently. It is not an extension of a state or a political entity. Hizmet volunteers emphasize the internalization of democratic values, active citizenship and community participation, and they respect every individual’s political choices. They stand against turning religion into a political ideology or making religion a tool of politics.”
We wish to reaffirm that one of the Hizmet Movement’s greatest strengths lies in its ability to bring together individuals of diverse perspectives, political views, and convictions to participate voluntarily in collaborative activities guided by Hizmet’s values. Nevertheless, the activities and statements of any individual Hizmet participant or supporter do not represent the Movement and should not be interpreted as such.
As emphasized in our statement of March 23, 2023 [2]: “Fethullah Gülen Hocaefendi and those who have contributed to the development of the Hizmet Movement have refrained from establishing a political party or aligning themselves with any party, maintaining an equal distance from all political parties in order to serve all segments of society.”
This fundamental principle of the Hizmet Movement remains unchanged. Individual political preferences, statements, and actions reflect solely the individual’s own positions.
Collective positions concerning the Hizmet Movement’s principled stance are formed through a comprehensive consultation process involving representative stakeholders, guided by the Movement’s core values. Issues of public significance that directly concern the Hizmet Movement are reviewed by the relevant consultative bodies and, when deemed necessary, communicated to the public through the Alliance for Shared Values.
Alliance for Shared Values (AfSV)