Center for Interreligious Understan-ding Director Rabbi Jack Bemporad has said the Gülen movement, led by well-respected Turkish intellectual and scholar Fethullah Gülen, aims to create a more peaceful world and invites all people to unity.

Bemporad, who delivered a speech at an awards ceremony and dinner, organized by the Interfaith Dialogue Center (IDC) of New Jersey, US, last weekend, expressed that Gülen aims to improve dialogue between different religions, shows tolerance to disparities and wishes to create a world where everyone can live happily and peacefully.

"Gülen invites people to unity. He sincerely respects other religions and does not exclude anyone because of their beliefs," he said. Bemporad was granted a Peace and Tolerance Award at the event. "Gülen is fully conscious of his own religion. He knows what he believes in and why. He also respects others' beliefs. He does not ignore the existence of other religions," he added.

New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine, who also spoke at the event, stated that he was influenced to a great extent by the different atmosphere of the award ceremony."I have attended many ethnic meetings, but there is a different atmosphere here. Today, the IDC gathered people from different cultures and religions under the same roof. This is a big accomplishment," he remarked.

Doctor Levent Koç, the president of the IDC, on the other hand, said more and more cultures had come together in New Jersey. "The fact that different cultures live together is a wealth. Those who attended this event today contributed to the improvement of dialogue between cultures. I am honored to see that everyone has come here today with their own beliefs and cultures," he noted.

Weysan Dun, a special agent in charge of the FBI, Newark Division, was also given a community service award. Upon receiving his award, Dun said their goal is to ensure that everyone lives in harmony and peace regardless of religion and culture.

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3.25 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."