Istanbul Technical University students met at the 7th traditional iftar event held at ITU Ayazağa Campus. In the program attended by thousands of university students, the area was colored with decorations and lighting and was crowned with the verse “Believers are brothers”. While more than 50 tables were set up in the area, thousands of young people broke their fast together and performed the evening prayer collectively after iftar. The traditional iftar event, held every year, was held with a different enthusiasm this year.

“I WOULD KEEP MY FAST ALONE”

BAYKAR Chairman of the Board of Directors Selçuk Bayraktar and National Defense University Rector Erhan Afyoncu also participated in the program and broke their fast with the students. Bayraktar, himself an ITU graduate, addressed the young people in the field after the iftar.

Bayraktar talked about the months of Ramadan, which he spent with difficulty abroad during his university years, with the following words: “When I go back years ago, I graduated from ITU and was working as a research assistant abroad. Of course, the Ramadan season would coincide again. We would fast, but alone. There was no one around…

“YOU MAKE ME HOPE”

It was time for iftar. I will never forget, we would break our fast with a slice of pizza and a soft drink at the food court. Alone, of course. Now I thank God that He showed me these days. Together with you, thousands of my young brothers and sisters, we celebrate and observe Ramadan together, in a brotherly and friendly manner, at the same table. Just like a festival. Indeed, it always makes me grateful for today and gives me hope for the future, in this dark situation the world is dragged into.”

The National Intelligence Organization (MİT) destroyed the DAESH cell that was preparing sabotage actions in Damascus. 3 DAESH members were captured in the operation carried out as a result of MİT’s intelligence sharing. A bomb-laden vehicle was neutralized. As a result of the intelligence shared by MİT with Syrian security and intelligence units, DAESH cell members and their connections operating in Damascus were monitored. Members of the organization named Ömer Hashim, Muhammed Hamed and Hüseyin Halef were captured during the operation. Bomb disposal experts neutralized the bomb vehicle, which was prepared to be detonated remotely and left at a critical point. During the inspection of the vehicle, C4 and TNT plastic explosives that would cause large-scale destruction were seized. After the completion of the interrogation procedures, the 3 captured suspects were referred to the anti-terrorism unit within the Syrian General Intelligence Service in order to reveal their possible connections with the people supporting the cell. In a voice recording shared by DAESH last week, it was stated that members of the organization were instructed to prepare for action.

It was revealed that the CHP municipality in Yalova’s Çiftlikköy district demanded 23 grams of gold from the tradesmen instead of money as the occupation fee, and the tradesmen made the payment in gold. Celal Balcı, who has been operating a small-scale amusement park in the municipality’s area since 2013, said that in the meeting held at the beginning of the 2024 summer season, the occupation fee was determined as 60 thousand TL, but a few days later, the municipal police officer came and said, “We want you to make the payment in 23 grams of gold.

“Mayor Adil Yele will use it as jewelry in events such as weddings, circumcisions and births,” he said. Balcı then claimed that he delivered 23 grams of gold to the staff in the mayor’s office, but no receipt was given for the delivery. Balcı said that he repeatedly requested a collection receipt verbally and in writing, but his request was left unanswered.

Tradesman Balcı, who recently encountered an eviction notice, was surprised at what happened. In the official letter from the municipality, it was stated that there was an occupation debt of 113 thousand 273 TL for 2024 and that the area should be evacuated within 3 days. Balcı, who also saw that interest exceeding 50 thousand liras was charged along with the late payment penalty, went to Çiftlikköy Mayor Adil Yele’s office and wanted to meet. However, Balcı said that he was kicked out by being told to “Go wherever you want and complain” and added, “I gave 23 grams of gold and also ended up in debt.” Balcı said that he filed a complaint against Mayor Yele and the relevant police officer.

Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, Numan Kurtulmuş, met with the rectors at iftar. Making evaluations about the US-Israel-Iran war, Kurtulmuş said:

There is an attack on Iran. The UN Security Council is meeting. Nobody cares whether it is collected or not. Because the UN Security Council is no different from a cafe in New York. This disorderly, ruleless world is becoming a world where those who fall cannot get back up. That’s why the old saying goes, don’t fall once.

We, as the Turkish nation, will not fall, we will survive, and together, with God’s permission, we will be one of the greatest nations in the world. Those who hold the power and feel entitled to use this power as they wish are telling all the countries in the region that if you do not walk in the direction we say, it will be your turn.

We, as a nation, will never accept such a wrong scenario. We have to be alert against all kinds of difficulties and difficulties and know that we are obliged to speak out for right and justice even if we are the last people on earth. Regarding the process of a liberated, terror-free Turkey, he said, “Stay involved in this process. Bring together the ideals of the terror-free Turkey issue with the people of the region and the city, and hopefully we will all leave this process behind and continue our struggle to make our eternal brotherhood eternal.”

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met with tradesmen and craftsmen at iftar yesterday in Beştepe. Giving important messages about the latest developments in the Middle East, Erdoğan said:

Our world is experiencing unprecedented days in recent history. A new one is added to wars and hot conflicts every day. Unfortunately, the international community, especially the Western world, is once again content to just watch all these events.

We will continue our multi-dimensional diplomacy, which we carry out with the aim of preventing further bloodshed in our region, preventing more innocents from losing their lives, and preventing tensions from growing and reaching irreversible points. Türkiye will successfully emerge from this regional turbulence.

Regional tension has gained a frightening dimension with the air strikes against our neighbor Iran. Hundreds of civilians, including innocent children, lost their lives. The missiles and kamikaze sent by Iran to other countries in the region revealed the risk of the fire spreading to a much larger area.

With the announcement of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, oil and natural gas prices increased by up to 20 percent. We have activated the ecel-mobil system in order to prevent increases in fuel prices resulting from these geopolitical developments. Accordingly, if the price of gasoline, diesel and LPG increases, up to 75 percent of the increase will be applied by reducing the SCT on these products.

In other words, if the price increase on these products is 10 lira, this amount will only be reflected on the sign as 2.5 lira. The remaining 7.5 lira will be covered by tax. In this way, we will both prevent opportunists from disrupting the market with the excuse of fuel prices, and as a state, we will share the burden of our citizens until the fluctuation in oil and natural gas prices subsides.

WE TAKE ALL PRECAUTIONS

We carefully follow all these developments, which have negative repercussions in a wide range of areas, from economy to trade, from security to tourism and agriculture. We do not show the slightest negligence or hesitation in ensuring the security of our borders and airspace. If a risk to the security of our country arises, we take all precautions meticulously in coordination with our allies.

We showed our sensitivity very clearly in yesterday’s incident (the day before). We also made the necessary warnings to prevent a similar incident from recurring. We drew attention to the importance of appreciating Türkiye’s friendship.

While our struggle for peace as a country and nation since the first day is obvious, no one should have a wrong attitude that harms the law of neighborliness and brotherhood. Our citizens should also be sure of this. Our government, with its experienced and qualified staff, is doing whatever is necessary to keep our country and nation safe from all kinds of danger in the Iran crisis, just like in the Russia-Ukraine war, which is in its 5th year. We follow a sensitive policy that centers on the security of 86 million people. We will maintain this attitude until the end.

WE FIXED THE CREDITS

We all followed the growth figures announced recently. As we reduce inflation, which is our biggest headache, to our targeted levels, ensure price stability and overcome temporary difficulties, Türkiye’s economy will become stronger and gain a different momentum.

The total amount of loans extended to tradesmen and craftsmen in the period between 1951 and 2002 was only 152 million. As the government, we have provided more than 752 billion lira of credit support to our traders in the last 24 years. In other words, in 24 years, we have quintupled the loans given in the past 51 years. We broke a historical record in the centenary of our Republic and provided a financial flow of 164 billion liras to tradesmen and craftsmen across our country.

Last year, we broke a new record on an annual basis by providing financial support of 176 billion lira to 258 thousand tradesmen in 81 provinces. We have postponed the 33 percent invoicing requirement for loans, which will come into force at the beginning of 2026, for one year. We have also recently made a new regulation in favor of our tradesmen and craftsmen who have difficulty accessing finance due to tax and SSI debts. With this regulation, a maximum of 25 percent of the loan to be used by our tradesmen with tax and SSI debts and a maximum of 300 thousand lira within a year can be collected within the scope of these debts.

GOOD LUCK CALL FROM PRESIDENT ERDOĞAN TO ALİYEV

Our phone calls continue unabated. We met with Malaysian Prime Minister Enver Ibrahim, French President Macron and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. I wished my brother Ilham to get well soon. I expressed that we regret the attack targeting Nakhchivan, that we stand with them under all circumstances and that we condemn the attack.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan attended the “Iftar Program with Tradesmen and Craftsmen” held at Beştepe Millet Exhibition Hall.

Erdoğan, who started his speech here by greeting the guests, said, “I would like to express my pleasure to be with you at this meaningful iftar table of the blessed Ramadan, whose beginning is mercy, whose middle is forgiveness, and whose end is salvation from the torment of hell. I would especially like to thank our Ministry for bringing us together. We have now reached 15, we are heading towards the end of the cycle. As His Holiness Üftade describes it, ‘He who remembers the believers, is free from anxiety. “I would like to congratulate your Ramadan Sharif, the sultan of the 11 months who liberated him.” he said.

“INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IS JUST WATCHING”

Wishing that these holy days will be beneficial for the nation, the Islamic world and all humanity, Erdoğan said, “I send my greetings and love to our 2 million 255 thousand tradesmen and craftsmen in our 81 provinces, including you. I would like to express my gratitude on behalf of both myself and my nation to all our tradesmen who add great value to our country with their sweat, labor, and sincere and self-sacrificing efforts.” he said.

Stating that he sees tradesmen and craftsmen as today’s representatives of the deep-rooted Ahi tradition, which kneads the yeast of civilization with morality, virtue, goodness and honesty, President Erdoğan said:

“I have expressed this many times, our tradesmen and craftsmen, our chambers and unions have been fed by a unique source like Ahiism for 1000 years. While they carried out their commercial activities in the best way, on the other hand, they gifted unique values to our social structure. While always considering halal earnings, altruism and sweat, they saw trade and shopping as a way to the peace and well-being of the society, and ultimately to the consent of Allah. ‘Watch out for the seller in the field, watch out for the seller. Take care of the land, take care of what is left in your wife, and give it to God. The wise verses of the late Alvarlı Efe actually describe the issue in the most concise way.

Important statements from President Erdoğan!

Today, I would like to thank once again all our tradesmen and craftsmen who embrace all these values, take these values ​​from the past and carry them to the present, and work with love for their country and nation. May God bless you all. I hope your efforts will be rewarded for good. Here I would like to underline that we are in a period where these ancient values ​​that create our tradesmen and craftsmen are needed more than ever. As you can see, our world is going through unprecedented times in recent history. A new one is added to wars and hot conflicts every day. “Unfortunately, the international community, especially the Western world, is once again content to just watch all these events.”

“WE DO NOT HESITATE IN ENSURING OUR SECURITY”

Pointing out that regional tension has gained a frightening dimension with the air strikes against Iran, President Erdoğan said, “Hundreds of civilians, including innocent children, lost their lives. The missiles and kamikaze UAVs that Iran sent to other countries in the region revealed the risk of the fire spreading to a much larger area.” he said.

Reminding that there were increases of up to 20 percent in oil and natural gas prices with the announcement of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, Erdogan said:

“We have launched the Eşel Mobile System in order to prevent increases in fuel prices resulting from these geopolitical developments. Accordingly, if the price of gasoline, diesel and LPG increases, up to 75 percent of the increase will be applied by reducing the SCT on these products. In other words, if the price increase in these products is 10 lira, only 2.5 lira of this amount will be reflected on the sign, and the remaining 7.5 lira will be covered by tax. In this way, we will prevent opportunists from disrupting the market with the excuse of fuel prices, and as a state, we will share the burden of our citizens until the fluctuation in oil and natural gas prices subsides. We carefully follow all these developments, which have negative repercussions in a wide range of areas, from economy to trade, from security to tourism and agriculture, especially in ensuring the security of our borders and airspace.

Important statements from President Erdoğan: “We do not hesitate in border security”

If a risk to the security of our country arises, we take all precautions meticulously in coordination with our allies. In yesterday’s incident, we showed our sensitivity very clearly. We also made the necessary warnings to prevent a similar incident from recurring. We drew attention to the importance of Türkiye’s friendship and knowing its value. While our struggle for peace as a country and nation since the first day is obvious, no one should have a wrong attitude that undermines the law of neighborliness and brotherhood. Our citizens should be assured of this, that our government, with its experienced and qualified staff, is doing whatever is necessary to keep our country and nation safe from all kinds of dangers in the Iran crisis, just like in the Russia-Ukraine War, which is in its 5th year. We follow a sensitive policy that centers on the security of 86 million people. I hope we will maintain this attitude until the end.”