PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT | PETITION | REQUEST

Dr Mehmet Yildiz Has Not Blocked or Removed Anyone. Medium Has Blocked and Removed ILLUMINATION From Its Platform

Kindly bear with us as allegations from one Medium member are being investigated.

Diversity, Synergy, Fusion, Serendipity

ILLUMINATION is the best thing to have happened to my writing this year and actually ever. I am not the only one. There’s 3700 of us waiting eagerly to getting back to reading, writing and engaging with each other.

My serendipitous meeting with Dr Mehmet Yildiz has brought new meaning to my writing, my involvement with the Medium community, and now even more so with the diverse ILLUMINATION community. Until yesterday that is.

ILLUMINATION has been removed from sight by Medium while they investigate claims against the publication and its kind, generous and inspiring leader.

The founder of our illuminating publication has a plan to uplift all the writers who engage and become part of the community. Our synergy will make this happen. When we are brought back from the void.

I chose to be part of this community in which reciprocity is so important to our success. I would never have achieved alone. Nor would many other writers who have joined this group of enthusiastic, talented writers, givers, and sharers. We are achieving a fusion unseen by others on the Medium platform. Until now. There are bound to be people who become green-eyed monsters as a result.

The good Dr gives us our voices and lets us be heard by people who desire — yes success — but also an environment where we support each other because ILLUMINATION is a space where encouragement and daily writing and other activity suggestions are offered which aim to challenge our abilities and assist our growth as writers.

Yes, I am biased towards this incredible man who invited me and my fellow writers to join him in creating his vision. He encourages us to invite others who we find on Medium whose work we enjoy and who don’t have a home.

This man is the only person I have ever come into digital contact with, to bend over so far backwards to help a group of people like himself to succeed together.

He gives people the benefit of the doubt and he suggests ways they can improve their situation.

He does not block anyone unless their intent is against Medium guidelines and his own person or that of his/our publication.

He does not refuse anyone for any reason. He is all about inclusiveness.

He recognises the excitement of writers who have previously been ignored by other publications. His motto is to publish every story submitted.

He is showing writers who don’t have a clue about how to market themselves how to do so.

Here are some comments by and quotes from writers and editors of ILLUMINATION.

To: Medium, From: Illumination Family, With Love and Curiosity

Part of Selma’s response to Salam Khan’s article.

I have never belonged — I say, belong as that is how I feel — to any public community where I felt that I was growing as an individual and at the same time helping to raise something (like say, raising a child) at the same time. Don’t take that away from us, @Medium The aura Illumination radiates makes me feel I am contributing to a good cause. May this be resolved once Medium has slept on it. That’s my prayer. ~Selma

Salam Khan, thank you for putting into words what I am thinking. Your words are calm and reasonable. I hope to follow your lead on this matter but I may get emotional.~Karen Madej

From Dear Medium, Give Back Illumination.

Joshua Davis, I’m so glad you found a home with ILLUMINATION. I did too. It’s the kind of place you want to keep coming back too, isn’t it? To find out what your family is writing about. Feeding off each other’s words, sharing what we love, and telling everyone about it.

And we are penalised. For doing exactly what Medium is all about.~Karen Madej

Kevin Buddaeus, Caught In A Blackout.

In the meantime, we all sit in the dark. Close to 300 writers, who share the same goal of growing together, suddenly feel pretty similar to the many workers in the world that have been laid-off in the wake of the corona crisis.

Our rights removed, our articles put back into our own hands, our visibility impaired. And not even an email to explain this injustice. Thank you very much.~Kevin Buddaeus

From René Junge’ article, Destructive Online Behaviour Endangers Honest Authors And Publications.

Internet trolls are not only available on Facebook and Twitter. Here, at Medium, they also do their mischief. Mostly these people are just annoying. But they can also cause significant damage.

Lilycelle Belarmino Ausa, One Voice and One Heart.

Being a newbie writer here, it was hard for my piece to get visible and read by many but, through illumination led by Dr. Mehmet Yildiz I was given a chance to shine and my writings are being recognized. It was an opportunity that every new writer dreamed of. I could say, there’s hope for unhopeful newbie writers like me.~Lilycelle Belarmino Ausa

Keira Fulton-Lees, When a Person with Autism Loses Illumination.

Dr. Yildiz’s vision for his publication inspired me to think deeper about my writing, and he truly has been a deep inspiration to me, a strong mentor, a true visionary, and through my writing on his Publication Illumination, not only has my writing improved, but my very core quality of life improved yet even more.

Personally, I cannot comprehend why anyone would seek to destroy such an exciting, engaging and supportive opportunity.

The good Dr has many altruistic offerings. Some are hard work, some are fun. You can choose to join in or not. He won’t mind either way. But I do know for a fact he will help anyone who puts in the work and what he offers works. We’ve seen and experienced it already in 30 days.

Please take a look at any of our stats articles when we are restored to our former glory.

I believe that my stats are rising in direct proportion to the consistency of my work, my willingness to stick it out, the interest I take in other writers. This is a community of sharing. When we go rogue, when we act selfishly, I believe our stats reflect it. That’s just my take.~Julia E Hubbel

Dr Mehmet Yildiz saw a gap (indeed several holes) in the Medium platform set up and sought to improve the situation for himself and other talented and skilled writers.

Medium please kindly restore our founder’s accounts and our fabulous community. It’s been less than 24 hours and we miss ILLUMINATION terribly.

If you have a valuable opinion on this matter, please do write in support of our wonderful leader and his vision for us all within ILLUMINATION.

Thank you for reading.