President Erdoğan said, “As long as the Western powers stand behind Netanyahu, despite all his bravado and recklessness, massacres in Palestine cannot be prevented.”
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan attended the International Goodness Awards Ceremony held at Beştepe National Congress and Culture Center.
Expressing his pleasure to host the guests from abroad in Turkey, Erdoğan said, “On behalf of myself and my nation, I would like to thank the Diyanet Foundation and the Presidency of Religious Affairs for bringing us together in such a valuable program under the global umbrella of goodness.”
Stating that the Diyanet Foundation continues to spread the seeds of goodness in different geographies and build bridges of friendship, solidarity and brotherhood with its activities carried out in Turkey and all over the world for 49 years, President Erdoğan used the following expressions:
“I congratulate the esteemed members of our foundation, who are running and sweating without expecting anything in return, in the spirit of Master Necip Fazıl’s ‘Let the soil be ashamed if the seed does not grow, let the spear be ashamed if it does not reach the target’, and I thank them for their devoted work. We see that the Turkish Religious Foundation, which adopts the motto ‘The best of people is the one who is beneficial to people’ as its guide, is flourishing and growing day by day like a magnificent plane tree, and is spreading its branches all over the world.”
Stating that the Diyanet Foundation is the honor of Turkey with its 1003 branches in Turkey and its educational, cultural, social services and aid activities in 149 countries around the world, Erdoğan continued as follows:
“First of all, I think it is useful to mention one thing here: We are members of a civilization of compassion and love. Our religion commands us to help the oppressed, orphans, the helpless and the needy, and to be the one for the orphans. Our Lord says in the 36th verse of Surah Nisa, ‘Serve Allah and associate nothing with Him. Be kind to parents, relatives, orphans, the poor, near neighbors, distant neighbors, close friends, travelers, and those under your hands. Allah does not like anyone who is arrogant and boastful.’ In another verse, Allah describes the believers as ‘those who spend in the way of Allah, secretly and openly, of what We have given them as sustenance’. We are the ummah of a Prophet who said, ‘You cannot be a complete believer unless you want for your brother what you want for yourself.
Therefore, we cannot be among those who eat when the neighbor is hungry. We cannot be the ones who turn their backs on their brothers and sisters. We can never be the ones who say, ‘I don’t care’, who say, ‘Every sheep hangs by its own bootstraps’. We all have a responsibility towards the believers who are our brothers and sisters in faith, towards the people who are our brothers and sisters in kindred. While we ourselves live in peace and security with our loved ones, we cannot remain indifferent to the humanitarian dramas right next to us. For 13 years, we have a responsibility towards Syrian refugees whose hearts have been burning with homesickness; Somali, Sudanese and Yemeni children who breathe their last breath in their mother’s arms because they cannot find a morsel of bread; and our Palestinian brothers and sisters who have been dreaming of returning to their homes and lands for 76 years. We cannot ignore or disregard them.”
“We are pleased with the ripple effects of the Goodness Awards”
President Erdoğan said, “Blessed are those who can make room in their hearts for the oppressed and the needy without any discrimination. Blessed are those who give, expecting the return only from Allah. I pray that Mawla will make us among those who fulfill their fraternal duties.”
“We are pleased with the growing effects of the Goodness Awards”
President Erdoğan said, “Blessed are those who can make room in their hearts for the oppressed and the needy without any discrimination. Blessed are those who give, expecting the return only from Allah. I pray that Allah will make us among those who fulfill their brotherhood duties.”
This year, we will present our Domestic Vefa Awards to Zeliha Bilgili, Ali Fuat Atik, Murat Kekilli and Duygu Kaçaranoğlu on behalf of our late Ömer Faruk Bilgili. I would also like to congratulate my brothers and sisters who won the Loyalty Award, and here I would like to remember with mercy our teacher Ömer Faruk Bilgili, our Provincial Mufti of Hatay, who performed important duties within our Presidency of Religious Affairs for more than 30 years. We will present the Overseas Loyalty Awards to Yusuf Abu Hassır on behalf of Khalid Nabyan from Gaza, and Server Beşirli from Azerbaijan to our brothers and their representatives. I hope that the stories of goodness and success of all our brothers and sisters to whom we will give awards will continue steadily. We all know very well that the world turns around because of people like those here, who are so compassionate. If the world is still standing despite all the pain, evil, cruelty and oppression that surrounds us, despite all the cries of the oppressed ringing the skies, it is because of the existence of good people, beautiful people, benevolent people like you.”
“Almost all of Gaza has been reduced to rubble”
President Erdoğan said, “I hope that our Lord will not let us feel the lack of big-hearted, magnanimous people who risk their lives for others in earthquakes, who work hard to reach one more person in need, who take all kinds of risks to defend right and justice, who strive to raise generations enlightened by the light of the Qur’an, who reach out to orphans, orphans, the elderly and even birds. We are grateful and thankful to you.”
Mr. Erdoğan wished that the work done by philanthropists to spread goodness, brotherhood and beauty in Turkey and in different parts of the world would be perpetual.
Explaining that the late Aliya Izetbegovic, a man of cause and statesman who devoted his life for the freedom of Bosnia, was not only a great thinker but also an experienced politician who knew the functioning of the global system very well, Erdoğan said: “He was so patriotic, brave, valiant and an exemplary leader in every respect that he would take off his suit and wear military camouflage for his country and nation when necessary. He also had a special place in the world of my heart. Not only the struggle of the late Aliya, but also his ideas, advice and words set an example for us. The late Aliya said the following about the Srebrenica genocide: ‘Whatever you do, do not forget the genocide. Because genocide that is forgotten is repeated’. Yes, it is inevitable that genocide that is forgotten or made to be forgotten will repeat itself.”
Noting that unfortunately today in Gaza we are witnessing the painful reality that Izetbegovic drew attention to, Erdoğan continued as follows:
“Since October 7, one of the most brutal genocides of the last century is being committed in Gaza before the eyes of the whole world. More than 15 thousand children have unfortunately been massacred, 35 thousand innocents have been martyred, more than 80 thousand Palestinians have been injured. Almost all of Gaza has been reduced to rubble. They turned Gaza, which was already an open-air prison due to the blockade, into a gigantic children’s graveyard in the last 229 days. They have lost their humanity to the point of killing babies in incubators, bombing hospitals, places of worship, attacking trucks carrying aid supplies, and raining bombs on innocent civilians waiting in line for food.
And they did all this with the weapons, bombs, airplanes and unconditional diplomatic support of those who have been lecturing us on human rights and freedoms for years. Let no one mock our minds. Let no one look us in the eye and lie to us. Those who provide logistical and military support to the invaders are as much to blame for the bloodshed in Gaza as the invaders. Don’t think that they will not be held responsible for the misery of the poor people who died in Gaza, don’t think that the oppressors will get away with it, never. The blood of the oppressed in Gaza is stuck on the foreheads of the occupiers and their patrons.”
Erdoğan said that Hamas announced last week that it had accepted the ceasefire offer, but Israel continued its uncompromising stance.
Not satisfied with this, Erdogan said, the Israeli government showed its real intentions by attacking Rafah, the last refuge of civilians, and added: “Once and for all, everyone must accept that as long as the Western powers stand behind Netanyahu despite all his spoilage and recklessness, massacres in Palestine cannot be prevented.”
Stating that Netanyahu is fueling anti-Semitism and jeopardizing the security of his own citizens in order to prolong his political life, Erdoğan said:
“If Zionist expansionism continues like this, I tell you frankly that our world is pregnant with new conflicts. The tension with Iran last month was just a sign of this. Israel’s attacks on Lebanon and other countries in the region are increasing. The Israeli regime must be stopped before more blood is spilled, before more children and women die, before hopes for humanity are lost. Stopping the massacre is the first step, but the genocidaires must be held accountable to justice.”
Stating that they have conveyed all the documents and information that Israel has committed genocide to their interlocutors, Erdoğan said, “Turkey stands by the Palestinian people and the Palestinian resistance fighters who heroically defend the land where they were born. The total amount of humanitarian aid we sent to Gaza exceeded 54 thousand tons. The treatment of the sick and wounded we brought to our country continues.”
Stating that they completely stopped import and export transactions to Israel last month, Erdogan said, “We have avoided a trade volume of approximately 9.5 billion dollars.”
“The Israeli administration could not break the steel will of the people of Gaza”
Stating that they intensified contacts with friendly and brotherly countries in order to force Israel to ceasefire, Erdoğan said:
“The indispensable agenda item of our meetings with foreign leaders is the recognition of the Palestinian state and the cessation of massacres in Gaza. We support all initiatives launched in this direction in the international arena. Our Palestinian brothers and sisters have become the face of humanity with their upright and resilient stance with their struggle despite all the impossibilities. Despite 229 days of genocide, the Israeli administration could not break the steel will of the people of Gaza and destroy their determination to struggle. Palestinians have been wounded, killed, expelled, forced to migrate, tested with hunger and thirst, and buried the babies they could not bear to kiss.
They were subjected to all forms of torture. They have experienced all the weaknesses of the global system. But they never bowed down to oppression and oppressors. They continued to defend the dignity of humanity. And they still continue to do so. From here, on behalf of myself and my nation, I once again greet the brave sons of Gaza and Ramallah with respect and affection. I commemorate the Palestinian martyrs with mercy and wish a speedy recovery to the wounded. Through you, I would like to thank all the people of conscience who fill the streets and squares every week all over the world, from Europe to America, from Africa to Asia. I also congratulate the university students, professors and artists who stand up for Palestine and stand up for Gaza despite the threats of the Zionist lobby.”
“Israel lost this brutal war in the eyes of humanity”
Stating that Israel lost this brutal war in the eyes of humanity, Erdoğan said that the Israeli administration is condemned in the conscience of humanity.
“Our brothers and sisters from Gaza have once again written their names in history,” Erdoğan said, emphasizing that the Palestinian cause will be strengthened on a global scale and will triumph with the establishment of an independent, sovereign and geographically integrated Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital on the basis of 1967 borders.
Erdoğan said, “We believe in this with all our hearts. Today, I am very pleased that Norway, Ireland and Spain have announced that they will recognize the state of Palestine. On behalf of myself and my nation, I would like to express our appreciation to the leaders of these three countries for their conscientious decision to stand on the right side of history. We call on the countries that have not yet recognized the state of Palestine to take the same step without wasting any more time.”
“A grave humanitarian drama is taking place in Afghanistan”
Reminding that more than 400 people lost their lives in the flood disaster in Afghanistan, President Erdoğan stated that they considered it a duty to help the disaster victims in these difficult days.
Stating that aid materials were sent to Afghanistan by cargo plane in the first place after the disaster, Erdoğan continued as follows:
“Our aid materials totaling 24 tons reached the region on Friday. Yesterday, we sent an aid train consisting of 43 wagons to Afghanistan. Yesterday’s train was the 20th goodness train we sent to Afghanistan under the coordination of AFAD. We expect a total of 619 tons of aid material to reach Afghanistan within two weeks. I invite friendly and brotherly countries to support the Afghan people.”
Drawing attention to the conflicts that have been going on in Sudan for a year, Erdoğan said, “Unfortunately, more than 8 million people had to leave their homes due to the civil war. It is important that we stand by the Sudanese people in these difficult days.”
Emphasizing that Turkey is in an effort to reach out to those in need with all its means wherever there is a problem, persecution and drama from Turkestan to the Balkans, from South Asia to Africa, Erdoğan said, “We will continue to stand against the oppressor and on the side of the oppressed, even if the unfortunate among us do not understand.”
Source: AA
