By Taiwo AKINLAMI

Upon entering The Ohio State University’s Fawcett Center on January 20, 2024, to cover this pivotal event for the New Americans Magazine, a compelling mix of solemnity and hope permeated the auditorium.

Professor Ori Z. Soltes of Georgetown University stood at the helm, engaging the audience in a powerful dialogue about the Turkish people’s ordeal under a regime reminiscent of Hitler’s Nazi Germany. Prof. Soltes, with his eloquent blend of gentleness and incisiveness, urged the global community to pay necessary attention to Turkey’s political forces and illuminate the suffering of its citizens.

His words deeply resonated, echoing Holocaust survivor and Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel’s profound insight: “The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference. The opposite of art is not ugliness, it’s indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it’s indifference. And the opposite of life is not death, it’s indifference.”

Prof. Soltes emphasized the critical need to resist indifference towards the ongoing social genocide in Turkey, a crisis of immense proportions.

As a renowned scholar in Jewish Civilization at Georgetown University, deeply involved in cultural, religious, and historical studies, especially interfaith dialogues, Prof. Soltes has gained a reputation as an influential voice in socio-political discussions. His connection with the Hizmet Movement, inspired by Fethullah Gülen and advocating moderate Islam focused on education and altruism, further bolsters his authority.

Known for his insightful works like ‘Embracing the World: Fethullah Gulen’s Thought and Its Relationship with Jelaluddin Rumi and Others’ (2013) and ‘Between Thought and Action: An Intellectual Biography of Fethullah Gülen’ (2022), Prof. Soltes offered a nuanced view on Hizmet’s role. Hizmet, meaning “service” in Turkish, is not centered on instigating political change or opposing President Erdogan’s autocracy. Its philosophy is grounded in non-confrontation, even against tyranny.

In a New Americans interview following his lecture, Prof. Soltes recounted an inspiring story of students in Sydney, associated with the Hizmet Movement, who participated in organic farming to support a village in Ghana. This anecdote underscored the movement’s commitment to global service, extending far beyond Turkish borders.

Prof. Soltes pointed out the stark irony in Erdogan’s regime labeling Hizmet as the Fethullah Terrorist Organization (FETO). This wrongful branding not only distorts the movement’s true purpose but also falsely ties it to the phantom coup of July 15, 2016. He described these allegations as products of tyrannical paranoia, a deliberate misrepresentation of a group whose main goal is service and emancipation, not political upheaval.

Ms. Aslihan Kas, Human Rights Defender at Advocates of Silenced Turkey, another speaker at the program, ushering participants into the exhibition, provided startling statistics in her presentation, highlighting the crisis’s severity: since 2016, over 2.2 million investigations, the closure of more than 100 news outlets, the seizure of thousands of institutions, and the detention or arrest of over 600,000 people in Turkey.

She shed light on the harsh reality that over 3,000 children have been raised in jail, with nearly 1,000, including children, losing their lives. The traveling exhibition, with 40 relics and a permanent display in New Jersey, stands as a poignant testament to the resilience and stories of those affected by social genocide in Turkey.

Despite formidable challenges, an undeniable spirit of hope and resilience was evident among Turks and their allies. The event’s highlight was the active participation of Turkish youth, who chose courage and engagement over prevailing fears, seeking justice and freedom for their fellow citizens. As informed guides in the exhibition, they demonstrated a deep understanding of Turkey’s struggles and a firm dedication to raising awareness of the ongoing crisis.

Departing from the event, I was deeply moved by the bravery of the organizers and participants, many of whom had fled Erdogan’s alleged social genocide. Their actions affirmed Edmund Burke’s timeless adage: “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men [and women] to do nothing.”

“Un-Muted: The Silent Voices of Social Genocide in Turkey,” a collaboration between the Turkish American Society of Ohio and Advocates of Silenced Turkey, united Prof. Soltes and Ms. Kas, alongside touching accounts from the Turkish diaspora.

Complemented by the Social Genocide Exhibition in the Main Lobby, showcasing artifacts and artworks vividly portraying the experiences of those impacted in Turkey, the event fostered academic discourse and highlighted the need for global awareness of complex political issues.

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