Democracy
Democracy allows citizens to participate equally in the process of political self-determination. In its ideal form, democracy allows individuals to flourish in all dimensions of their lives. We embrace democracy and democratic values such as freedom of expression, freedom of religion, rule of law and equal opportunity.
While Gulen’s teachings are not political in nature, he cherishes democracy as a system of governance in which society can flourish and which enables individuals to maximize their potentials. A devotion to one’s faith need not detract from commitment to one’s country, and Gulen encourages people to take active roles in serving their communities. Individuals inspired by Gulen established media outlets, civic organizations, and think tanks with the goal of educating individuals about the value of democracy and engaging in the free flow of ideas.
The following statement was prepared by Alliance for Shared Values based on a workshop of social scientists and journalists who analyzed the prevalent views among Hizmet participants on these topics based on their observations and available literature…
Every individual is equal in dignity and rights, and should have the opportunity to realize their full potential. We work with organizations that strive to empower the underprivileged by providing access to the tools they need to succeed.
We embrace equal rights for women and men as expressed in The UN Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women. The Convention defines discrimination against women in the following terms:
The following statement was prepared by Alliance for Shared Values based on a workshop of social scientists and journalists who analyzed the prevalent views among Hizmet participants on these topics based on their observations and available literature…
Education is the antidote against ignorance and it is the most effective tool for empowering individuals, building cultural awareness, and positively impacting society for generations to come…
The Alliance works to foster environments of mutual respect and social harmony in communities through its member organizations and partners. We do this by educating people about different faiths and cultures, condemning violence and terror, and creating opportunities for dialogue and collaboration among people from diverse backgrounds…
We categorically reject resorting to violence and terror toward political or social goals. Both violence and terror are multidimensional phenomena. Economic, political, and ideological factors that underlie violence and terror should be given as much emphasis as social factors such as ethnicity, religion and culture. Differences in ethnicity, religion or culture often drive inflammatory rhetoric that fuels conflicts arising from political or economic reasons…
Peaceful and harmonious coexistence is the ultimate ideal that unites all of humanity. In an increasingly globalized society, it is important to shift the discourse away from the things that divide, and instead focusing on our shared goal of peace and combating the prejudices that breed fear and violence.
Good health is a crucial component of a dignified life. One important way to contribute to the well-being of others is to help alleviate their sufferings and improve their health condition…
Serving fellow humans without personal benefit is an expression of the love of humanity. Charitable work should be done without prejudice or preference, to benefit the global community and humanity…