Politics
Scholars gathered in Istanbul stress urgent aid obligation for Gaza
On the second day of a weeklong conference in Istanbul, prominent Muslim scholars on Saturday underscored that there is an urgent obligation to provide aid to Palestinians in Gaza.
The gathering, titled “Islamic and Humanitarian Responsibility: Gaza,” has been organized by the International Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS) and the Foundation for Islamic Scholars in Türkiye and is being held on Democracy and Freedom Island near Istanbul. It has brought together more than 150 scholars from over 50 countries to discuss Israel’s war on Gaza and the wider Islamic world’s response.
The day began with a protocol session featuring speeches from senior figures, including IUMS President Sheikh Ali Muhyiddin Al Qaradaghi, Ali Erbaş, head of Türkiye’s Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet), and IUMS Secretary-General Sheikh Ali Muhammad Al Sallabi.
Sheikh Abdul Wahab Aykinci, the president of the Ummat Association, opened the session on behalf of the organizing committee. Guest speeches were delivered by Iraqi and Turkish scholars, including Sheikh Ahmed Hassan Al Taha of the Iraqi Fiqh Council and Nasrullah Hacımüftüoğlu, president of the Foundation for Islamic Scholars in Türkiye.
The first workshop centered on “the obligation of aid to Gaza,” where delegation heads presented recommendations.
Later in the day, the program was supposed to feature a press briefing on the latest developments in Gaza and conclude with a public statement and protest in solidarity with Palestinians but was delayed due to changes in the program’s schedule.
The conference continued on Sunday with a series of workshops, dividing participants into groups that included scholars, state representatives, business leaders, media professionals and political figures.
Sessions focused on themes such as the duties of Islamic scholars and governments, the role of business in reconstruction and aid projects, the responsibilities of the media and ways to strengthen unity in the Muslim world.
The day was scheduled to conclude with the preparation of workshop reports and a general session evaluating the outcomes.
The eight-day event, which began on Friday with prayers at Istanbul’s Eyüp Sultan Mosque, will continue through Aug. 29.
It is scheduled to close at the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque with the issuance of the “Istanbul Declaration,” a document that organizers say will outline “concrete steps for political, humanitarian and legal action” in support of the Palestinian cause.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency (AA) on the sidelines of the conference, Abdul Vakhed Niyazov, president of the European Muslim Forum, praised Türkiye’s leadership in hosting the gathering.
Niyazov said many Muslim organizations have remained silent on Gaza, but emphasized that Türkiye’s Diyanet and the International Union of Muslim Scholars had “not been silent, but gathered their colleagues, Muslim spiritual leaders and were trying to reach out to the minds of society, talking about the horrors our brothers and sisters in Gaza are experiencing today.”
Asked about the role of Muslims in Europe, Niyazov said diaspora communities had been more active than many Muslim-majority governments.
“We are proud that the Muslims of Europe have shown their responsibility and organization over the past 23 months. Unlike most of the Muslim world, especially Arab countries, the Muslims of Europe every weekend fill the largest squares and streets of Europe, raising their voices in defense of Gaza and Palestine,” he said.
He added that Muslim communities in Europe, America and Canada had demonstrated “maturity” and were joined by people of other faiths, including Christians and Jews, in condemning genocide and “Zionist cruelty and crimes.”
“Only our organization, the year before last, held such actions in 17 European countries, mass actions in support of Palestine, Gaza and Muslim shrines,” Niyazov said, crediting the “enthusiasm and impulse of believers” across Europe for sustaining these demonstrations.
Europe’s silence
Turning to the European Muslim Forum’s initiatives, Niyazov highlighted the growing public support for Palestine across Europe, although he accused political institutions of lagging behind.
“The majority of Europeans today do not accept the bloody genocide and crimes of the Zionists and stand against it. We observe how the positions of the U.K., France and the Netherlands are changing. It even starts to change in Germany,” he said.
However, he criticized EU leadership for inaction.
“As for the European institutions, unfortunately, they have taken a position of silence and indifference. They can no longer deny the genocide in Gaza, but they are trying to remain silent. The leadership of the EU, led by Mrs. von der Leyen, has a particularly drinking position,” Niyazov said, adding that history would judge such leaders as “accomplices of bloody crimes.”
Niyazov also highlighted support from church institutions, including the Vatican, and pointed to late Pope Francis’s statements on Palestine.
“A believer cannot but notice the murder of women and children by hundreds of thousands every week,” he said, stressing that grassroots mobilization remains the strongest force for change.
“Yes, there are corrupt governments, leaders who are afraid of something, the scary forces of the US or the Israeli lobby,” he said.
“But when people go out on the street, on the square, they achieve, step by step, to change the situation.”
Ummah coming together
Addressing the gathering on Saturday, Ali Erbaş said they met to mobilize the Islamic community and the world against oppression in Gaza, stressing that Gaza and Jerusalem are not only the concern of Palestinians.
“The only solution is for the ummah to come together and stop oppression and occupation. Today, civil society organizations, people of different faiths, academics, artists, athletes and people of conscience all over the world are reacting against the terror state. I believe that in the face of this global stance, the oppressors will be defeated,” he said.
He emphasized that the struggle would continue until peace comes to Palestine, adding: “No effort is sufficient until Palestine is free. Every minute we spend talking and condemning costs another innocent life in Gaza. Every deterrent but an unrealistic reaction only encourages the oppressors to commit new massacres. I believe that the day we, as the Islamic ummah, stand united. Our lands, foremost Gaza and all of Palestine, will find peace. When Jerusalem, Gaza and Palestine are liberated, peace and tranquility, long yearned for in our region and the world, will prevail. Ultimately, victory will belong to those who believe. May Almighty Allah keep us steadfast on His path and help us against the oppressors.”
In his speech on Saturday, Hacımüftüoğlu said that humanity was burning in Gaza and that the killers responsible for this destruction must be stopped.
Drawing attention to massacres in regions where Muslims live, Hacımüftüoğlu said: “The Iran-Iraq war lasted seven years. Millions of people were slaughtered and in the end, Baghdad was occupied. Not only Baghdad, but also East Turkistan, Africa and many Muslim countries – what has happened there is part of the assaults on the Islamic world.”
He underlined that the children, the elderly and the people of Gaza, which is reduced to rubble, had committed no crime, and added: “The Islamic scholars have gathered here to make the voice of Gaza heard. The Islamic scholars wage jihad with their knowledge and their words. Regardless of language, religion, or color, to us, all people are equal and brothers. In Islam, there has never been a religious war. Religion tells us: if there is an attack on your faith, your country, your honor and dignity, then you must take action,” he said.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has vowed that anyone found responsible for a deadly mine collapse in the western province of Manisa will be held accountable, as an investigation continues following the deaths of five miners.
Speaking Saturday at Teknofest Southeast in Şanlıurfa, Erdoğan said authorities were pursuing both administrative and criminal investigations into Thursday’s collapse in the Soma district, where five miners were killed and two others were rescued with injuries.
The Energy and Natural Resources Ministry has launched an administrative investigation, while the Soma Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has opened a judicial inquiry. Nine people, including officials from the company operating the mine, have been taken into custody.
“The investigation is continuing in multiple directions. Anyone found to have been negligent or guilty will certainly be held accountable. We will also follow the process closely,” Erdoğan said.
He offered condolences to the families and colleagues of the five miners who lost their lives and wished a speedy recovery to the two injured workers, who remain under medical treatment.
Erdoğan made the remarks during the opening of Teknofest Southeast at Şanlıurfa GAP Airport, where thousands of visitors gathered to attend the country’s flagship aviation, aerospace and technology festival.
The president praised young participants for their technological achievements, saying their projects demonstrated the progress Türkiye has made in science and innovation.
“Once again, we are proudly witnessing the level Türkiye has reached in technology and the high-quality projects produced by the Teknofest generation,” he said, congratulating young people who displayed their inventions and turned their ideas into reality at the festival.
The atmosphere at the airport, along with the determination, enthusiasm and ambition of the participants, showed that Türkiye’s future was in capable hands, Erdoğan said.
He added that the country’s long-term development vision, known as the “Century of Türkiye,” would carry the imprint of a generation increasingly involved in technological innovation.
“These young people are a source of pride for our nation and among the country’s most valuable assets,” he said, praising their knowledge, confidence and ambition.
Erdoğan also thanked the Industry and Technology Ministry, the Turkish Technology Team Foundation and other organizations involved in organizing the festival, describing Teknofest as the world’s largest aviation, aerospace and technology event.
He said he had personally recommended Şanlıurfa as the host city, arguing that its historical and cultural heritage made it an appropriate setting for an event bringing together technological innovation and young talent.
“Once again, we are experiencing the excitement of Teknofest, an event shaped from beginning to end by young people, and this time we are doing so in Şanlıurfa,” he said.
Erdoğan highlighted the city’s ancient history, describing it as a center of religious heritage, science and civilization. Şanlıurfa is home to Göbeklitepe, an archaeological site widely recognized for its significance in understanding early human history.
He also recalled the contributions of scholars associated with the region, including Al-Battani, Sinan ibn Thabit, Ibn Wasif of Harran and Yunus al-Harrani, who made contributions to fields including mathematics, astronomy, medicine and philosophy.
The president said hosting Teknofest in Şanlıurfa was intended to connect the country’s historical legacy with the ambitions of its younger generation and the technologies of the future.
He added that organizers wanted young Turks to draw inspiration from their cultural roots while introducing international participants to the country’s history and heritage.
Teknofest began in 2018 with applications from 4,333 teams, Erdoğan said, noting that participation had increased significantly over the years.
This year’s Southeast edition attracted more than 730,000 teams and over 1.6 million competitors from all 81 Turkish provinces and 97 countries, according to the president.
Visitor numbers had also approached 1 million, he added, highlighting the growing public interest in the festival.
Türkiye’s Underwater Defense Command (SAS) is training its personnel to respond to threats ranging from drifting sea mines and unexploded ordnance to improvised explosive devices and unmanned maritime systems, as the naval unit maintains operations aimed at securing the country’s waters.
The unit, part of the Turkish Naval Forces Command, carries out explosive ordnance disposal, underwater operations and other specialized missions at sea and on land. Its personnel have also taken part in counterterrorism operations when assigned, according to SAS commander Navy Capt. Dr. D. Ilhan Sayıcı.
“These missions require many years of training and experience,” Sayıcı said. “Procedures must be followed completely during a mission because there is no margin for error. For us, the first mistake is the last.”
Established in 1964, the command has participated in operations ranging from the 1974 Cyprus Peace Operation to more recent counterterrorism missions, Sayıcı noted.
One of its main areas of expertise is neutralizing explosive threats, including naval mines, unexploded ordnance, improvised explosive devices and suspicious underwater objects.
SAS teams have also been tasked with responding to drifting mines and other potential threats in the Black Sea, where mines have posed risks to maritime traffic.
He said the unit’s objective is to protect maritime transportation, respond rapidly to potential threats and safeguard Türkiye’s maritime interests.
Becoming a SAS commando requires about a year of intensive training, with officers and noncommissioned officers joining on a voluntary basis.
Candidates are evaluated not only on physical fitness but also on psychological resilience, technical knowledge, leadership and their ability to make decisions under intense pressure, Sayıcı said.
The unit regularly conducts shooting, diving, demolition, helicopter and field exercises to maintain operational readiness.
A SAS officer identified as Lt. B. described one of the unit’s procedures, known as the Tactical Claw Operation, which is designed to neutralize drifting naval mines and unmanned aerial or maritime vehicles.
Under the procedure, SAS personnel are transported to the area by helicopter before entering the water and placing explosives on the target. They then withdraw to a safe area by boat or helicopter before remotely detonating the device, the officer said.
SAS teams have intervened against more than 300 suspicious objects, including mines and unmanned aerial and maritime vehicles, according to the unit.
Its personnel have also served in counterterrorism operations inside Türkiye and across the border, including operations Euphrates Shield, Olive Branch, Peace Spring and the Claw series, Lt. B. said.
The unit has also carried out missions in Libya, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Albania.
During a recent training exercise, SAS commandos practiced clearing a booby-trapped building, rescuing a hostage and neutralizing an improvised explosive device. Another explosive device detected in the field was targeted using sniper and rocket fire.
Another SAS officer, identified as Lt. S., said fewer than 30% of candidates have completed the approximately yearlong training course in previous years.
The officer said personnel undergo regular physical conditioning on land and at sea alongside specialized operational training.
“The physical and mental endurance required by our work can only be developed through continuous and disciplined training,” he emphasized, adding that exercises also focus on patience, composure, attention and decision-making.
Lt. B. said teamwork remains central to the unit’s approach, particularly during missions involving explosives.
“There is no room for fear, hesitation or mistakes in our understanding of duty,” he said. “We remind ourselves that we do not have the luxury of making a mistake.”
U.S. President Donald Trump voiced strong support for Türkiye and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Friday when asked about delays in lifting CAATSA sanctions that led to Ankara’s removal from the F-35 fighter jet program.
Noting that he loves Türkiye, Trump said he talks to President Erdoğan all the time.
“He is a friend of mine, as you know. And I’ll always make him happy,” Trump told reporters as he left the White House for Alabama, where he was due to attend a Republican Party campaign event.
Trump had announced during the NATO leaders’ summit in Ankara in July that sanctions on Türkiye would be lifted, saying Washington did not want to impose sanctions on its friends.
The U.S. imposed sanctions under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) in 2020 after Türkiye purchased the Russian-made S-400 air defense system.
Ankara turned to the S-400 after its efforts to purchase the U.S.-made Patriot air defense system failed to produce a deal. Türkiye was subsequently removed from the F-35 fighter jet program.
Türkiye will open a Turkish school with capacity for about 1,000 students in the Syrian capital Damascus on Oct. 4 as Ankara and Damascus expand cooperation, the Turkish Education Ministry said.
The Damascus International Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Turkish School, named after Türkiye’s president, will open in the Artuz area of the Syrian capital and will begin providing education during the 2026-2027 academic year.
The school will operate under Türkiye’s Education Ministry and include kindergarten, primary, middle and high school levels, the ministry said in a statement on Friday.
The ministry said the school was established as part of growing education cooperation and coordination between Türkiye and Syria, including efforts aimed at expanding access to education for Syrian children and young people.
The facility has 36 classrooms and will accommodate about 1,000 students.
A delegation from the Turkish Education Ministry is expected to attend the opening ceremony and the school’s first class.
Ankara said the project was also intended to support children from families returning to Syria and help them adapt to education following their return.
The ministry described the school as part of broader efforts to strengthen educational links between the two countries, which share longstanding historical, cultural and social ties.
Türkiye has expanded its education-related activities in Syria as Ankara and Damascus have sought closer cooperation in several areas.
Turkish education officials have held a series of meetings and visits in Syria in recent months. Türkiye’s education office in Damascus said officials inspected the new school’s campus in September ahead of its planned opening.
The Education Ministry said it expects the school to provide students in Syria with access to Türkiye’s educational system while contributing to closer ties between the two countries.
The opening comes as Türkiye and Syria increase coordination on education following years of conflict that severely disrupted Syria’s education system and displaced millions of people.
Turkish officials have said supporting education and facilitating the adaptation of returning families are among the objectives of Ankara’s cooperation with Syrian authorities.
On Aug. 6, officials from Türkiye’s Council of Higher Education (YÖK) and Syria’s Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research also signed a memorandum of understanding to advance educational cooperation between the two countries.
Under the memorandum, the two parties will continue work on the legal framework, governance structure, academic organization, student admission procedures, quality assurance mechanisms and administrative regulations for the planned Syria-Türkiye University in Damascus.
Damaged vessels from the Global Sumud Flotilla are being repaired in Türkiye’s Antalya after an Israeli attack in international waters, with volunteers working to prepare the ships for another voyage toward Gaza.
Some of the vessels were left with damaged engines, broken masts and torn sails after the attack. They were later brought to Antalya, where local and international volunteers are carrying out repairs at a shipyard.
Two vessels have already been repaired and sent to Italy as part of preparations for another Gaza-bound mission, said Sümeyra Akdeniz Ordu, a board member of the Global Sumud Flotilla.
“We are trying to recover the ships drifting at sea one by one. We are carrying out a rescue mission,” Ordu told Anadolu Agency (AA). “We are repairing these ships so they can sail to Gaza again.”
Fourteen flotilla vessels are currently in Antalya, Ordu said, adding that volunteers from different countries were helping coordinate and repair the ships.
She said each vessel had a special significance for the activists and that they were treating the ships “like their own children” as they worked to restore them.
The damage was extensive, Ordu said, describing broken masts, damaged engines and cut hoses. She also said the sails had been torn with knives.
“The mast was broken, surface cleaner and coffee had been poured into the engines, and the hoses on each ship had been cut one by one,” she said. “They caused this damage by ramming them with larger ships.”
The repairs have been difficult because of the extent of the damage, but volunteers have continued working, Ordu said.
Türkiye has provided a safe port for the repair effort, she added.
Ordu said the activists remained determined to continue their efforts despite the damage to the vessels.
“If the enemy does not give up, we cannot give up,” she said. “We are trying to be a voice here for our Palestinian friends.”
She said the damage to the vessels showed what she described as the violence and hostility directed at the flotilla.
“We, too, insist on continuing every form of resistance,” Ordu said.
Türkiye condemned a drone attack on a power distribution station in the Saudi city of Medina that supplies electricity to the Prophet’s Mosque, reiterating its support for Saudi Arabia amid renewed regional tensions.
Ömer Çelik, spokesperson for Türkiye’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), condemned the attack on Friday, saying targeting infrastructure serving the Prophet’s Mosque was unacceptable.
“Attacks targeting our sacred values are illegitimate acts directed against all Muslims,” Çelik said in a social media post, adding that Türkiye strongly supported Saudi Arabia’s security and stability.
The targeted facility supplies electricity to the Prophet’s Mosque, Islam’s second-holiest site. The attack put one transformer out of service but did not affect the electricity network.
Türkiye’s Foreign Ministry also strongly condemned the attack, saying strikes targeting civilian infrastructure and threatening Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty and security should “cease immediately and unconditionally.”
The ministry reiterated Türkiye’s support for Saudi Arabia and called on parties to avoid steps that could further escalate tensions in the region.
“We reaffirm our strong support for Saudi Arabia and emphasize the need to avoid any steps that would further escalate tensions in the region,” the statement said.
Presidential Communications Director Burhanettin Duran on Friday separately condemned the strike and said Türkiye would continue to stand by Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi-led coalition said an investigation and examination of drone wreckage indicated Houthi involvement in the Sept. 29 attack.
Coalition spokesperson Maj. Gen. Turki Al Maliki said the targeted facility supplies electricity to the Prophet’s Mosque, one of Islam’s holiest sites.
Saudi Arabia said two weeks ago it had intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone south of Mecca before it entered restricted airspace over the Muslim holy city. The coalition described that incident as the second Houthi attempt to target Mecca since 2017.
Earlier on Thursday, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and several Arab countries, including the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain, also condemned the attack on Medina.
The OIC described the targeting of vital infrastructure and facilities as “a dangerous escalation and a blatant violation of the sanctity of holy sites,” as well as international and humanitarian laws and norms.
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