President Gül Calls on Islamic World to Demonstrate Robust Solidarity to Stop the Killings in Gaza

President Gül attended the iftar (fast-breaking dinner) given by the Presidency of Religious Affairs on the occasion of the meeting entitled “The World Muslim Scholars Peace, Moderation and Sagacity Initiative” at Dolmabahçe Palace. Declaring the current situation in Palestine to be dire, President Gül reiterated: “The incidents in Gaza are occuring before the very eyes of the whole world and all the Muslim countries. It is a great shame. The Islamic world must be in robust solidarity to stop these killings. So long as we cannot demonstrate this solidarity, such agonies will be experienced in the future as well.” 

President Abdullah Gül delivered a speech at the iftar (fast-breaking dinner) given by the Presidency of Religious Affairs on the occasion of the meeting entitled “The World Muslim Scholars Peace, Moderation and Sagacity Initiative” at Dolmabahçe Palace. 

CLASHES IN THE MIDDLE EAST 

Pointing to the ongoing grave problems that the Muslim world is going through, President Gül shared his belief that the ideas to be discussed as part of the meeting will enlighten all including the leaders and the clergymen of the Islamic world, as he said “the meeting is being held to guide the Muslim world in the face of the shameful incidents being experienced in the region.” 

The President noted that Muslim people are killing each other and neighbors are acting as enemies to one another, leading to grave agonies. “This does not befit either Islam or humanity!” 

President Gül maintained that cities and historical structures are being destroyed, that thousands of people are being killed, that children are left orphans, women widows and that millions of others have had to leave their homelands, becoming refugees in other countries. “Most of the Islamic countries are faced with sorrows and tears. As believers of a religion which teaches ‘one who sleeps with a full stomach when his neighbor goes to bed hungry is not one of us!’, it is not possible for us to leave in peace and without sorrow while our neighbors are going through such agoines. On the other hand, being sad due to these events is not enough at all. We have to carry out the necessary studies to stop this. I believe that your coming up with the ideas according to the Quran and the Prophet Muhammed’s example and his advice will guide all, including leaders and politicans. To be honest, we have to realize our own deficiencies and faults. Sometimes, passions and lack of foresight might take advantage of sects and ideologies, leading to clashes. It would be inaccurate to say that such clashes are simply sectarian or religious-based. Behind these clashes are those who exploit them, who want to gain strength from them and who wish to consolidate their authorities through these events.” 

“ISLAMIC SCHOLARS MUST TELL THE TRUTH AT ALL TIMES” 

The President further called on Islamic scholars to tell the truth at all times and to guide others without being intimidated by anything even when governments take the wrong path for this or that reason. Clerics must never be afraid to tell nothing but the truth to the face of authorities when these authorities a perpetrate wrongdoings; otherwise, the plight of the Islamic world continues, warned President Gül, adding: “These events are claimed to be occuring for the sake of religion. Some movements involved in such events even take their names from the Islamic terminology and Muslim scholars. Therefore,  the image of Islam in the world is harmed. No one has the right to promote Islam in such a way.” 

This not only makes it difficult to talk about Islam in the world but also brings hardship to the lives of Muslim people all over the world, noted the President, saying: “We therefore must look at ourselves first and overcome our own deficiencies and correct our faults. We also have to enjoy unshakable solidarity. The incidents in Gaza are occuring before the very eyes of the whole world and all the Muslim countries. It is a great shame. I hereby wish that Allah’s mercy be upon those who have lost their lives in these incidents. The Islamic world must be in robust solidarity to stop these killings. So long as we cannot demonstrate this solidarity, such agonies will be experienced in the future as well.” 

IGNORANCE AND INCAPABLE ADMINISTRATIONS  

President Gül continued as follows: “Wherever there are cruelties, injustices and inequalities, people begin to express their feelings about them. If they are silenced when they try to evince their most natural demands, we witness such events occuring in the region today. Islamic scholars, at this point, have a great responsibility indeed. They have to tell nothing but the truth even under the most difficult conditions according to the modern interpretations of the Quran. Today unfortunately some movements are acting as per so-called fatwas (Islamic edicts). People are being massacred in the name of  religion. We are faced with such shameful events. There are wars within the Islamic world today. These arise from ignorance and lack of capable administrations.” 

President Gül ended his speech with the following words: “Our hearts are beating together with those in the countries going through sorrows and agonies. I hope that everyone will have the necessary sagacity and common sense and that these agonies, tears and brutalities will end without further delay.” 

Attending the iftar were Deputy Prime Minister Emrullah İşler; Islamic scholar Mohammed Mahdi Najaf; Ali Al-Hakim of the Institute of Imam Al-Hakim; Secretary General Ali Karadağı of the International Union of Muslim Scholars and other invitees from many countries.

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