Alliance for Shared Values

The Alliance for Shared Values (AfSV) is a New York-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit umbrella organization and major part of the Gülen movement, or Hizmet.[1]

Goals and organization

Having been inspired by Turkish preacher Fethullah Gülen, their stated goal is to "[serve] as a voice for civic, culture and service organizations around the U.S dedicated to promoting community service, education and interfaith dialogue."[2] The president of the organization is Alp Aslandogan.[3]

Member groups

According to the official website, the following groups are a part of the Alliance for Shared Values (AFSV):[4][5]

  • Atlantic Institute, formerly known as the Istanbul Cultural Center,[6] a non-profit group from Greenville, Columbia, Charleston, Clemson South Carolina that "promotes dialogue between different faiths, cultures and religions." AI holds a free annual iftar (the evening meal at which Muslims end their daily fast during Ramadan), where non-Muslims can learn about the Muslim Ramadan traditions and have their questions answered by the institute.[7] Similarly, it organizes cultural interfaith events in South Carolina.[8] The institute also occasionally paid for trips to Turkey for legislators in South Carolina. Its president and director is Akif Aydin.[9]
  • Rumi Forum, formed in 1999 and based in Washington, D.C.,[10][11][12] exists to “foster interfaith and intercultural dialogue.”[10] In April 2016, they hosted a religious extremism debate in Charlottesville, Virginia.[13] In June 2016, they hosted an iftar similar to that of the Atlantic Institute in Albemarle County, Virginia.
  • Pacifica Institute, a nationwide nonprofit organization which opened in the San Fernando Valley in California in 2003,[10] but which is now based in South Salt Lake, Utah. In February 2015, the institute sponsored and hosted a screening of "Love is a Verb", a documentary on Fethullah Gulen's life.[14] The Pacifica Institute traditionally had annual trips to Turkey, but these stopped in early 2016 because of instability in the area and the increase in ISIS-fueled terrorist attacks.[15] The institute, like the other member groups of the AFSV, also holds interfaith iftars.[16][17]
  • Institute for Interfaith Dialogue (or Dialogue Institute of the Southwest, its new official name), based in Houston.[18]
  • Niagara Foundation. A non-profit organization dedicated to the mission of fostering civic conversations and sustained relationships between people of different cultures and faiths.
  • Peace Islands Institute (formerly Interfaith Dialog Center)

Conflict with Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdoğan

In 2014, the AFSV released a statement in which they condemned what they called "politically-motivated attempts to crackdown [sic] on law-abiding citizens" by then-Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan against members of the organization, including defaming Gülen and demanding his extradition without any charges or legal case against him. They also accused him of taking advantage of Turkey's strategic relationship with the United States.[19]

In 2016, Turkish President Erdoğan and other members of the Turkish government blamed Fethullah Gülen and his movement for the Turkish coup attempt. The AFSV condemned both the coup and accusations of being involved in it, releasing a statement on the day of the attempt:[20][21][22]

News media reported about developments in Turkey today regarding actions of Turkish Armed Forces.

For more than 40 years, Fethullah Gulen and Hizmet participants have advocated for, and demonstrated their commitment to, peace and democracy. We have consistently denounced military interventions in domestic politics. These are core values of Hizmet participants. We condemn any military intervention in domestic politics of Turkey. Events on the ground are moving quickly and it would be irresponsible for us to speculate on them. We remain concerned about the safety and security of Turkish citizens and those in Turkey right now.

Comments by pro-Erdogan circles about the movement are highly irresponsible.

References
  1. Statement by Alliance for Shared Values on Developments in Turkey
  2. About us - Overview, Alliance for Shared Values
  3. Alp Aslandogan, The Huffington Post
  4. Members, Alliance for Shared Values
  5. Christopher Holton; Clare Lopez (December 2015). "The Gulen Movement" (PDF). Center for Security Policy. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  6. Jacksonville man caught in chaos of Turkish coup attempt, Jacksonville.com
  7. Atlantic Institute Offers Free Iftar Dinner, Free Times
  8. Interfaith events brings community together, WLTX
  9. S.C. lawmakers went to Turkey on the dime of group with ties to coup, The Post and Courier
  10. Hauslohner, Abigail; DeYoung, Karen; Strauss, Valerie (August 3, 2016). "He's 77, frail and lives in Pennsylvania. Turkey says he's a coup mastermind". The Washington Post. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  11. Local Gulen-Inspired 'Dialogue Institute' Addresses 'Ongoing Situation in Turkey,' Denounces Coup, Jackson Free Press
  12. The Turkish President's Arch-Nemesis, The Atlantic
  13. Rumi Forum Hosts Religious Extremism Debate
  14. Pacifica Institute Utah hosts 'Love is a Verb' screening for interfaith season, Deseret News
  15. Local Turkish community keeps eye on homeland, Orange County Register
  16. Pacifica Institute and Redmond United Methodist come together for Interfaith dinner
  17. A Note From Camp Ramah, A Heart In Israel, Huffington Post
  18. Harmony Public Schools renew denial of ties to Turkish cleric
  19. Alliance For Shared Values Press Release on Erdogan, Niagara Foundation, April 29, 2014
  20. Statement by Alliance for Shared Values on Developments in Turkey Archived 2016-08-16 at the Wayback Machine, WFMZ-TV
  21. Gulen-linked body condemns attempted Turkey coup, Financial Times
  22. U.S.-Based Cleric Fethullah Gulen Blamed by Erdogan in Turkey Coup Bid, NBC News
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