Meeting in closed session format titled “Faith, Justice and Moral Leadership: Reimagining Muslim Civil Society”; It created the basis for a comprehensive dialogue addressing the role of Muslim civil society in the face of global crises, the understanding of ethical leadership and the impact of women in social transformation.

“CIVIL SOCIETY SHOULD NOT BE A STRUCTURE THAT ONLY RESPONSES TO CRISIS”

The opening speech of the program was made by KADEM Board Member Dr. It was performed by Zeynep Temizer Atalar. In his speech, Atalar emphasized that the role of civil society in today’s world should be rethought and said:

“Civil society should not only be a structure that responds to crises. It should also be an actor that shapes social norms, strengthens awareness of responsibility and builds a moral bridge between the public and society.”

Atalar also pointed out that Muslim non-governmental organizations can become not only structures that intervene in crises or help victims, but also norm-setting actors that contribute to discussions on principled and responsible governance, social solidarity and global justice.

DIPLOMACY, ACADEMY AND CIVIL SOCIETY AT THE SAME TABLE

In the opening part of the iftar meeting, Permanent Observer of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to the United Nations Ambassador Hameed Ajibaiye Opeloyeru and Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad addressed the participants. In the speeches, the role that faith-based non-governmental organizations can play in solving global problems and the importance of international cooperation were emphasized.

Diplomatic representatives, academics and civil society leaders from different countries attended the iftar program. KADEM Deputy General Managers Journalist Semanur Sönmez Yaman and Dr. Betül Özel Çiçek was also present at the consultation table.

CONSULTATION IN THE RAMADAN ATMOSPHERE

At iftar time, the participants all had iftar together. After the evening prayer, the program was started by KADEM Board Member Dr. It continued with the open consultation session moderated by Zeynep Feyza Eker Ayhan.

In the consultation session where diplomats, academics and civil society representatives from different countries took the floor; Establishing a stronger cooperation network among Muslim non-governmental organizations, strengthening ethical leadership and increasing the role of women in civil society were discussed.

EMPHASIS ON GAZA AND GLOBAL JUSTICE

Representatives who spoke at the meeting drew attention to the devastating effects of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, especially on women and children. Participants stated that global civil society should show stronger solidarity in the face of such crises.

“No society can be free alone. Justice is possible first with the solidarity of men and women, and then with the solidarity of societies.”

In the session where female leadership was particularly emphasized, Muslim women are not only carriers of social solidarity networks; It was also stated that they were transformative leaders in the fields of civil society, education, diplomacy and public policy.

Speaking in the program, Shahada Inc. President Basira Rahim emphasized that the roots of Muslim civil society in the USA are based on African American Muslims and said, “The foundations of Muslim civil society were laid in these lands by African American Muslims and indigenous communities. It is not possible to understand today without understanding this history.”

Nadira Gandhi, founder and director of the international non-governmental organization Cornerstone, stated that the burden carried by women in war and crisis environments often remains invisible and said, “Women carry the heaviest burden of wars and crises. However, they are also at the center of the resistance that brings their societies back to their feet.”

Majida Farrell, one of the managers of Masjid al-Taqwa mosque in Brooklyn, stated that communication and cooperation between Muslim communities should be strengthened and said, “We have a global network, but this network is not interconnected enough. We need to establish stronger communication between mosques and communities.”

Sahar Ali, founder and executive director of New York-based Black Muslims Now, drew attention to the invisibility experienced by African American Muslims within the Muslim community and said, “For real solidarity, we need to talk about the historical inequalities and invisible stories within the Muslim community.”

Awa Bob, executive director of New York-based Africana, also stated that solidarity in times of crisis should be shown not only with words but also with concrete steps, adding, “Such meetings offer important opportunities for different communities to get to know each other and act together.”

Christy Rocco, Vice President of Business Development at The Above Group, drew attention to the representation of Muslim women, especially in the corporate world, and said, “We see very few Muslim women leaders in corporate circles in New York. We need to establish stronger professional networks in this field.”

KADEM EXPANDS ITS INTERNATIONAL MUSLIM CIVIL SOCIETY NETWORK

KADEM brings together NGO representatives and leading women working in the field of women around the world with the programs it organizes in New York; has been organizing meetings and solidarity events for Muslim communities for the last 3 years, especially with the participation of Palestinian civil society representatives.

This consultative iftar held in New York was one of the important meetings held with the aim of creating a stronger basis for dialogue and cooperation among Muslim non-governmental organizations on a global scale.

With the work it carries out on international platforms, KADEM not only contributes to the empowerment of women; At the same time, it continues to contribute to making faith-based ethical values ​​more visible in the fields of global governance and civil society.

In the post made on the NSosyal account of the Ministry of National Defense, it was stated that Güler went to Italy with the Chief of General Staff, General Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu, as the official guest of Crosetto.

The following statements were included in the post:

“On his arrival at Rome Ciampino Airport, Minister Yaşar Güler was welcomed by Rear Admiral Giuseppe Addesa, Head of the Italian Military Aviation Department, Temporary Charge d’Affaires of our Vatican Embassy Elif Okutucu, First Undersecretary of our Rome Embassy Tuna Yücel Çelik, Rome Armed Forces and Naval Attaché Colonel Ali Top, Rome Air Attaché Colonel Mustafa Cem and other officials.”

Minister of National Defense Yaşar Güler went to Italy with the Chief of General Staff, General Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu, as the official guest of Italian Minister of Defense Guido Crosetto. Minister Yaşar Güler, Head of the Italian Military Aviation Department, upon his arrival at Rome Ciampino Airport… pic.twitter.com/uaUEyXVSoL

— Turkish Ministry of National Defense (@tcsavunma) March 16, 2026

7 suspects were arrested in the investigation into tender rigging and bribery crimes in MERSİN Metropolitan Municipality. In the operation carried out on March 11 within the scope of the investigation carried out by the Mersin Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, 7 suspects, including Private Secretary DU, were detained on charges of ‘bribery’, ‘forgery of official documents’, ‘tender rigging’, ‘fraud to the detriment of public institutions and organizations’ and ‘laundering of criminal assets’.

21 PROPERTIES WERE SEIZED

During the operation, 21 real estate properties, 3 vehicles and 1 marine vessel were seized. During the investigation, it was determined that a payment was made to a company by pretending that goods and services were purchased through direct procurement to the Metropolitan Municipality, and that 16 million liras of public damage was caused to the benefit of the suspects by this method. As part of the investigation, 19 more people were detained the day before. Thus, the number of detainees increased to 26. 4 of the suspects who were referred to the courthouse remained free at the prosecutor’s office. While DU and 6 suspects were arrested, 15 of them were released with a judicial control order.

There has been a new development in the investigation regarding the claim that detained former Bolu Mayor Tanju Özcan had an illicit relationship with municipal employee Öznur Çağalı and later became a victim of blackmail. In the indictment, Özcan denied Çağalı’s claim that he and Özcan met at the Narven Thermal hotel and had a relationship. According to HTS and base station records, it was revealed that the duo’s phones gave signals from the same base in the Narven Thermal region of Bolu on October 25.

REQUEST FOR UP TO 3 YEARS OF PRISON

According to the indictment prepared within the scope of the investigation carried out by the Bolu Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, it was stated that former Bolu Mayor Tanju Özcan, who was detained within the scope of the ‘extortion by coercion’ investigation in Bolu, sent sexually explicit messages to Öznur Çağalı, who works in Bolu Municipality, and that the woman’s ex-boyfriend Mehmet Eren Akgüney saw these messages and demanded 20 million TL, a car and a car wash facility from Özcan.

In his statement, Çağalı stated that Özcan made him listen to the audio recording of a report made to the municipality call center in his office and said, “What happens if Eren hears this audio recording, I will protect you, I like you, you will meet with me.” In this context, a prison sentence of up to 3 years was requested for Özcan on the charge of ‘blackmail’.

THEY MEET AT THE HOTEL

In his statement, Çağalı stated that Özcan invited him to meetings alone and told him that he liked him. Çağalı also stated that in October 2025, at the invitation of Tanju Özcan, he went to a hotel in Narven Thermal Town, where they drank alcohol and had sexual intercourse. In his defense, Özcan stated that he did not have any romantic relationship with Çağalı. According to the HTS and base station records examined within the scope of the investigation, it was determined that the mobile phones of Tanju Özcan and Öznur Çağalı gave signals from the same base station in the Narven Thermal region of Bolu between 15.00 and 20.00 on October 25.

Balıkesir Enforcement Office initiated a seizure process against the CHP Metropolitan Municipality due to a receivable exceeding 628 million lira. It was revealed that Balıkesir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor, CHP’s Ahmet Akın, had not made any payments to the company from which he purchased ornamental plants and saplings for 2 years. Balıkesir Metropolitan Municipality, which purchased various ornamental plants, trees and saplings worth approximately 300 million from the SS Ornamental Plants Production Agricultural Development Cooperative operating in the Turgutlu district of Manisa, did not make any payments to the cooperative in question. The Cooperative, which has not received payment for 2 years despite all official correspondence, initiated a lien process against the Municipality. Within the scope of the foreclosure process carried out through the file numbered 2025/17763 of Balıkesir Enforcement Office, a lien of 628 Million 623 Thousand 509 TL was sent to the Municipality along with interest.

WARNING TO TENANTS

Balıkesir Enforcement Office, which sent a warning to 16 different businesses that were tenants of the municipality’s immovable properties, notified that all rental fees to be deposited to the municipality should be deposited into the lien account. On the other hand, it was claimed that the Municipality’s accounts were also blocked within the scope of receivables.

DEBT HAS DOUBLED WITH INTEREST

It was understood that the actual debt figure in the file was approximately 300 million lira, but the debt increased more than 2 times with the interest and expenses applied after the foreclosure procedures started. The high amount of 628 million in the enforcement file brought criticism against President Akın and his team.

Meryem Yılmaz Jarada, a high school student whose mother is Turkish and whose father is Palestinian, was born in Gaza, which is under Israeli blockade. Meryem’s mother was brought to Ankara for treatment for a brain tumor two months before the attacks launched by Israel in 2023. Having been separated from her mother and struggling to survive under bombardment with her father and siblings, Meryem dreamed for two years about the day she would be reunited with her mother. In 2025, Meryem published a video on social media in which she asked for help from President Erdoğan. Turkish authorities, who took action to fulfill Meryem’s call upon the instructions of President Erdoğan, brought Meryem and her siblings to Türkiye.

Meryem from Gaza, who was brought to Ankara in the last months of 2025, said in an interview at that time that she dreamed of talking to President Erdoğan on the phone or face to face one day. Meryem’s dream came true at the AK Party TBMM Group Meeting on March 11. Hasan Turan, Chief of Administration of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey and Chairman of the Türkiye-Palestine Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group, brought Meryem to meet with President Erdoğan. Turan said, “He met and met with our President before the Group Meeting. We showed him the video he took and reminded him of it. Our President was also happy and smiled. He said nice, nice words to Meryem. They prayed, ‘Hopefully, one day Gaza and Palestine will be free.’ The smile on Meryem’s face made us happy, too.”