Liberal Turkish Islam Movement: Fethullah Gulen's Thoughts

Turkish Islam Movement led by Fethullah Gulen is among the most interesting examples of liberal Islamist thoughts in the Middle East. Gulen and his followers have attempted to establish a political-religious movement supporting modernism, Turkish nationalism, tolerance and democracy without victimizing religious commandments, and the Movement and its leadership’s structure and philosophy have today found manifestations in many educational groups and institutions. A number of Turkish secular elites consider Gulen’s Movement as a progressive development, whereas some others evaluate it as a latent threat. It appears that the study of this Islamist movement and of its effects can be of interest and benefit for understanding the developments taking place in contemporary Turkish politics.