Peace Islands Institute and TCCNY organized a conference, titled “A decade after 9/11, Incitement to hatred and violence on the basis of religion or Belief”.The conference was hosted by the master of ceremonies of the event, composer, singer, and producer, Mr. Tomaczek Bednarek, who opened the conference by beautifully performing the national Anthem which was followed by a moment of silence for the victims of 9/11 and their families.
Mr. Zafer Akin, the president of the Turkish Cultural center of NY, shared the mission and vision of TCCNY, and why TCCNY organized such a conference, and he introduced the inspiration behind the peace building projects, honorable Mr. Fethullah Gulen, at the opening remarks. 9/11 movie presentation, produced by TCCNY’s media producer Mr. Recep Celik, gave another perspective of after effects of the event which vocalized the Muslim voice not really heard by the mass US Media.
The first panel of the day was titled “what have we done wrong? What have we done right?” moderated by Dr. Carol Dahir from New York Institute of Technology in which an Emmy winning TV host, CBS inside edition host, and news celebrity Rita Cosby shared her story of 9/11 with audience. She stated that there is a tremendous distinction between terrorists and Muslims within the statement of Mr.Fethullah Gulen. As a Muslim scholar who condemned the attacks right away she wished that she had known him earlier. Dr. John Pahl, Professor of Theology, Lutheran School of Theology, spoke under title of: “unexamined sacrifices and unexplored opportunities”. He gave “five peace building principles toward a better post 9/11 world”, and said: “religions exist to overcome violence”. As the last panelist for the first panel, Alex Kronemer, Co-Founder & CEO of Unity Productions Foundations, took Place and talked about the importance of stories, because he said: “we are the only animals who tell stories”. Stories told by history and religions shaped the society and the minds of people. We have an archive in our minds that has a potential to become story. Radical fanatics were one of the archives which became a story after 9/11; he used a Harvard and MIT study regarding story lines to support his theory.
Before the second speaker of the second panel, Scott M. Stringer, Manhattan Borough President gave his remarks on the occasion. He offered his thanks to TCCNY “for all the support and collaboration he enjoyed over the year with his office”. He stated: “This is not just a cultural center for Turkish people, this is a cultural center that speaks to the very center of New York City is all about”. He was presented a plaque by the president of TCCNY, Zafer Akin.
Second panel was titled “Worldwide repercussions of incitement to hatred and violence” moderated by Rita Cosby. First speaker of the panel Prof. Jonathan Laurence, political scientist from Boston College, spoke about how 9/11 has affected the integration of Muslim citizens as religious communities and, raise of islamophobia as a challenge in the western world from European experience. Second speaker of the panel Dr. Walter Wagner, Moravian College and Theological Seminary, stated that 9/11 created muslimophobia. He underlined the teachings of honorable Fethullah Gulen in regards of peacemaking. With his vision he wished that the “clashes of civilizations” will change in to dialogue and coalition of civilizations, and incitement to hatred and violence will change in to excitement to justice and peace. Third speaker of the panel Hakan Yesilova, editor of the Fountain Magazine, said we do not have to change our identities in order to talk to one another. He shared study done in Kuvveyt University on self identification, and how images of our minds can shape our decision. “We became global neighbors” he added, and went back to the beginning of the creation, and he told the story of Adam’s two sons Abel and Cain. In the past and now human have the right to live. And dialogue will make it possible.
Right before the third panel, a plaque has been offered to, Mehmet Ibis the brother of Zuhtu Ibis who is one of the victims in 9/11. On behalf of Mr. Mehmet Ibis, family friend Zafer Akin accepted the plaque.
The third panel titled “our common challenges in our common future” was moderated by Aydogan Vatandas, correspondent, Cihan news agency. First speaker prof. Abdullah T. Antepli, Muslim Chaplain, Faculty of islamic studies, talked about the common enemies of humanity quoted from Bediuzzaman Said Nursi as ignorance, poverty and disunity. If these internal problems are solved, terrorism will diminish. Second speaker Marc Scheuer, director, UN Alliance of Civilizations, talked about the active role of UN Alliance of Civilizations in order to establish an inclusive society and human rights. Creating commonality, involvement of media, working with the youngster, and realization of the other are some important elements for peaceful future. Third speaker Mohamed Younis, senior analyst from Abu Dhabi Gallup Center, shared some research done by Gallup Center. One of them suggests that leaders should focus on economic and educational development, since lack of these elements is legitimizing violence in peoples mind. In less developed countries people justify violence with higher rate than developed countries. That applies to the education part also. Government accountability, transparency, and freedom are justification elements for people.
At the end of the panel, students from different tradition shared their views and feelings regarding 9/11.
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