Public discussion on the “Global Legacy of Fethullah Gülen” at ESIEA

Distinguished personalities from academia, law, literature and social life took part in the discussion, offering both their analyses and their personal testimonies.

Opening the round of speeches, Sotiris Livas dwelt on the need to dismantle conspiracy theories surrounding Gülen, highlighting his role as a “bridge-builder” and the gradual evolution of his action from the local to the global level. Katerina Markou then focused on Gülen’s devotion to pluralism, democracy and human rights, underlining his commitment to intercultural dialogue and Western values despite the persecution he suffered.

From the standpoint of legal scholarship, Omfali Migadaki spoke of her personal acquaintance with Gülen and the Hizmet Movement, noting the members’ deep devotion to freedom, equality and justice, centred on the principle that truth constitutes real power. In parallel, writer and translator Persa Koumoutsi shared her experience of translating his book “Love and Tolerance”, pointing out that love is the core of his teaching, inspiring peace, solidarity and intercultural dialogue.

Anthimos Sideris focused on the importance of education and selfless service and, through moving examples —such as teachers working with orphans in Egypt and the experiences of refugees— highlighted the prevalence of the collective “we” over the individual “I”, comparing the Movement’s values with the philosophy of the Hellenic World. Finally, Mehmet Ates described Gülen as a leader with “two wings”, who combined religion with the positive sciences to address the problems of the age, closing his remarks with the message of a Greek doctor who bade him farewell as a “worker of world peace” and stressing the responsibility to continue his work.