“Our Own Sky Balkan Scholars Meeting-2” program organized by the Islamic Scholars Foundation was held in Edirne.
The organization, which took place in a hotel in the city hosted by the Governorship, started with the recitation of the Quran by Selimiye Mosque Imam Hatibi Yusuf Serenli.
Edirne Governor Yunus Sezer, in his speech, stated that they organize such programs by seeing a home as a source of comfort, relief from longing, and an opportunity to embrace each other.
Pointing out that the Gaza issue is more than a Palestinian issue, it is an issue that summarizes the situation of the Islamic world, and said, “This issue is a matter of reviewing our situation. The Gaza issue is a picture of a state staring the Islamic geography in the face and carrying out massacres, and it is a matter of us remaining a bystander.” he said.
Sezer underlined that the Islamic Civilization has never been on the side of the oppressor, and has always been on the side of the right at the expense of paying the price in the struggle between right and wrong.
Stating that the focus should be on raising people who are knowledgeable, knowledgeable and committed to the values of civilization in order to say “stop” to the oppressor, Sezer said, “This is the essence of this difficult, troublesome issue that we need to do in order to have a say in the future. With the help of this meeting, you will first establish brotherhood among our brothers, especially in our Balkan geography, and separate discord and corruption. In addition, we will raise young generations who are faithful, faithful, moral and the best in the world in science, in order to remind humanity to this world.” A systematic understanding is put forward for he said.
“We are facing a Zionist terrorist network”
Vice President of Religious Affairs Dr. Hafiz Osman Şahin stated that the meeting was held in order to commiserate with the troubles of the ummah, especially Gaza, and to meet again with the clergy in the geography of their hearts.
Referring to the oppression and massacre in Gaza, Şahin said:
“We are faced with a Zionist terrorist network that has shed blood in the world with the dream of a Promised Land in Gaza. The massacres, which have been going on for many years but have increased since October 7, 2023, have claimed the lives of 70 thousand people. The world is watching these events. We, as the Islamic world, remain sad spectators in helplessness. We are trying to do something, but these efforts are not enough to stop this cruelty. As the Presidency of Religious Affairs, “We always make Palestine the most important agenda item. We have kept Palestine on the agenda in our sermons and sermons, we have constantly held international meetings, we are trying to deliver humanitarian aid. Yesterday, the Presidency of Religious Affairs and the Diyanet Foundation have sent off more than 1000 trucks to Palestine and we have tried to deliver around 40 million dollars of cash and humanitarian aid.”
Stating that they were happy to host the clergy from the Balkans in Edirne, Şahin wished that unity and solidarity would last forever.
“Let these rivers flow together as Shattulbalkan”
Former President of Religious Affairs Prof. Dr. Ali Erbaş stated that Palestine and Gaza are the mirror of the conscience of the ummah.
Stating that Gaza is a test of humanity’s conscience, Erbaş emphasized that what happened in Gaza makes humanity question its sense of responsibility.
Underlining that Muslims need unity and solidarity more than ever, Erbaş said:
“We will not say ‘we are talking, there is no result’, we will not fall into despair. Muslims have urgent things to do. We must teach this issue to the generations as a legal, historical and strategic issue, not an emotional issue. We must teach this to the generations with the lessons of the Palestinian reality. We need to be in economic solidarity. We need to trade directly with Palestinian merchants. Our youth should be ambassadors of truth on social media, we should not leave these channels to the hands of others. We need to explain it fairly and wisely. We need to establish a communication network between the councils of ulema. With hope, responsibility and prayer… Today, humanity is tired, but the Ummah can never be hopeless.”
Erbaş emphasized that the rivers in the Balkans, such as the Shatt al-Arab, where the Tigris and Euphrates feed Basra, should also foster unity and solidarity by forming the Shaddulbalkan.
AK Party Edirne Deputy Fatma Aksal stated that Edirne is not only the gateway of the Ottoman civilization to the Balkans, but also a geography of science and wisdom.
-“Killing people is not in our philosophy”
President of the Islamic Scholars Foundation Prof. Dr. Nasrullah Hacımüftüoğlu thanked Edirne Governor Sezer for hosting the program.
Stating that they came together in an important organization, Hacımüftüoğlu said, “I would like to thank our ‘wise governor’ who attaches importance to art, knowledge, science and scholars. I also thank God for bringing together the group that formed an alliance to solve the problems of the Ummah and brought together the ulema and the umera.” he said.
Hacımüftüoğlu noted that the number one problem in the world today is the massacres of the Zionist regime.
Reminding that the attacks have continued since the emergence of Islam, Hacımüftüoğlu said:
“The massacres in the Andalusian Umayyad State, in the Balkans, in the occupation of Baghdad, and in the Crusades that came to Anatolia were no different from today. Since the day Islam emerged, the two poles of the world, right and wrong, have always faced each other. The nettle and monopolist, which has emerged in the name of civilization for 200 years, is scanning the world, which Mehmet Akif calls ‘the monster with only one tooth’, and is taking action under the name of democracy and human rights.” “It is called savagery, not civilization. The real civilization is Islam. Because Islam declares all people as brothers without discrimination, killing people is not in our philosophy, we need to be alert against murderers.”
Edirne Mufti Ercan Aksu also stated that important issues such as Gaza, family and the unity of the ummah will be discussed in the program.
World Muslim Scholars Foundation President Prof. Dr. At the opening ceremony of the program, where Ali el Karadaği also gave a speech, Edirne Governor Yunus Sezer and Islamic Scholars Foundation President Prof. Dr. Nasrullah Hacımüftüoğlu presented a wooden painting with Selimiye Mosque embroidery and Edirnekari decoration to the clergy and scholars coming from the Balkans.
The program was attended by Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) Vice President Mahmut Çevik, Islamic History, Art and Culture Research Center (IRCICA) President Mahmut Erol Kılıç, Elected Mufti of Xanthi Mustafa Trampa, Elected Mufti of Komotini İbrahim Şerif, Grand Mufti of Bulgaria Mustafa Hacı Aliş, President of the Islamic Union of North Macedonia Şakir Fettuhu, President of the Islamic Union of Montenegro Rifat. Feyzic, Crimean Mufti Ayder Rütemov, Romanian Muslims Mufti Murat Yusuf, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Edirne Representative Ambassador Murat Ahmet Yörük, Trakya University Rector Prof. Dr. Mustafa Hatipler, Tekirdağ Namık Kemal University Rector Prof. Dr. Mümin Şahin, Rector of Trabzon University Prof. Dr. Emin Aşıkkutlu, Rector of Sofia Higher Islamic Institute Prof. Dr. Kadir Muhammed and heads of religious affairs, muftis and clergy from the Balkans attended.
The organization will end tomorrow.
