The official launch of the Fethullah Gulen Chair in the Study of Islam and Muslim-Catholic relations was held at the Australian Catholic University in Melbourne, Victoria. The President of Victoria, John Brambi, thanked the Australian Intercultural Society for the contributions of Peace in the country.

The Australian Catholic University in Melbourne, Victoria hosted the inauguration ceremony of the launch of the Fethullah Gulen Chair in the Study of Islam and Muslim-Catholic relations.

The Governor of Victoria, Professor David de Kretser and the Honorary President of the Australian Intercultural Society Mehmet Ali Shengul together conducted the official opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Governor Kretser stated in his inaugural address that the immigrants who increased the population of the country contributed to the multiculturalism of the country.

PROF. DR. DAVID DE KRETSER said:

"There have been clashes of religious differences between Protestants and Catholics in Ireland, Shiites and Sunnis in Iraq for years. The social researches are very important in terms of preventing such clashes. To quote from Fethullah Gulen: For a world in peace, dialog is the principal task of the people."

The President of Victoria John Brumby in his message sent to the ceremony said," This chair is an important contribution to the multicultural structure. I would like to thank the Australian Intercultural Society for their contributions.

The participants were touched by the readings from the Qur'an at the ceremony. Also the participants standing up during the azan which is Muslim call to prayer drew attention.

Greg Barton of Melbourne Monash University who delivered a speech at the ceremony recalled that in the days following September 11, Muslims experienced great difficulty as they were subject to prejudice and he added that the dialog activities would end these clashes between the different faiths.

PROF. GREG BARTON from MONASH UNIVERSITY said:

Barton who reminds the dialog studies all over the world by Gulen said, "To note his sensitivity to education, all these studies lead our thoughts to name this chair after Mr. Gulen."

At the ceremony, the Honorary President of the Australian Intercultural Society Mehmet Ali Sengul in his speech stated, "It is such an event which praises applauds to launch a chair which is named after a person who has devoted his life to education."

Among the guests were Islamic Scholars, members of the Turkish Parliament, Academicians, members of the media, columnists from international newspapers, also other VIP guests from the UAE, the UK and Turkiye and directors of large companies who support the chair.