Good, beautiful, and right - Symposium in Istanbul discussed 'Our Shared Values'

29th-30th March 2010
Fazıl Say Hall, Bahçeşehir University, Istanbul

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As part of its European-wide roll-out 'Our Shared Europe' kicked off in Turkey with a two-day event in Istanbul in partnership with the Civilization Studies Centre (CSC) at Bahçeşehir University, Istanbul, and the Association for Muslim Social Scientists (AMSS) UK. The ‘Our Shared Values’ symposium and panel discussion provided a platform for dialogue and some 25 academics, historians, writers, and journalists representing a broad spectrum of different cultures, religions, and thoughts engaged in discussions on common values and principles. Prof Mehmet Asutay, Member of the Executive Board of the AMSS and Lecturer at Durham University opened the symposium by quoting Jeremy Henzell-Thomas, a curriculum development specialist, writer, former executive committee member of AMSS UK, and Chairman of the Board of FAIR, the UK Forum Against Islamophobia and Racism:

“The alliance of communities should not only be for the ‘Abrahamic Religions’ such as Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, but it must also be for everyone including those who hold other beliefs or who try to be a good person.”

‘Focusing on shared values’

At the panel discussion on day two, retired Turkish Ambassador and Special Envoy of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, Ömür Orhun, stressed the importance of dialogue in understanding each other: “Any dialogue must be based on moral responsibility. Otherwise it is not possible to get to know each another. Any dialogue must be based on political wisdom. One should have knowledge on cultural values.”

Jeff Streeter, Director of the British Council in Turkey, said the panel did not attempt to create European values, or impose the values of a certain community or religion over the others. “In contrast, it is about focusing on similar basic values and what we have in common rather than on what divides us.” Bekir Karlığa, Director of CSC, noted that shared values can be built upon three main values: good, beautiful, and right, and that “these values should not be seen as Europe’s shared values but as more general.”

Please click here to see the full lists of participants and panelists.

You can download the main findings of the workshop in English and Turkish.

To learn more about the event, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it


Find out more about the Our Shared Values Symposium in Turkish