Abdul Mujib, General Manager of PAHANA Media, which broadcasts in Sri Lanka, paid a meaningful visit to the Milli Gazete.
During the visit, ideas were exchanged on many issues from the media perception that the Islamic world is exposed to, to economic developments.
Mujib, who started his speech by thanking Mustafa Kurdaş for his hospitality, talked about the difficulties faced by Muslims in Sri Lanka.
Mujib also talked about the media project initiated by Sri Lankan Muslims to combat the perceptions and provocations of the West.
Mustafa Kurdaş, Editor-in-Chief of Milli Gazete, thanked Abdul Mujib, General Manager of PHANA Media, for their visit.
Expressing that the newspaper took the problems of the Ummah as a legal case with the responsibility took from the verse 'The truth has arried, falsehood has vanished' in the logo of the Milli Gazete. Kurdaş also wished Abdul Mujib and his team success.
“THE ISLAMIC WORLD CANNOT USE THE MEDIA VERY EFFECTIVELY”
Mr. Mujib, as a Muslim who carries out media studies, what would you say about the importance of the media?
We can say that the media is one of the most powerful weapons of our time. When we want to spread an idea to people in the world, when we want to arouse hatred against a society or when we want to destroy a regime, when we want to start a protest, the media is the biggest and most effective method we can use. But unfortunately, the Islamic world is far behind in using the media effectively. Even if we see this need clearly in the recent period, we cannot say that it is strong enough to face the obstacles created against the Islamic world. For this reason, 'media' emerges as an area that Muslims should be most interested in today. Therefore, the establishment of such media organizations and devoting their life to it, making the necessary expenditures and making the necessary investments, providing the necessary training to the necessary people, creating the necessary forces and resources are the greatest conditions that media company owners must fulfill today.
“WE ESTABLISHED A MUSLIM MEDIA IN SRI LANKA”
How did the publishing process of PAHANA Media, of which you are the manager, begin? What are your goals and objectives?
“In the Quran, Allah Almighty says: "O you who believe! If some transgressor brings you news (that requires taking action), verify it carefully (before you believe and act upon it), lest you harm a people in ignorance and then become regretful for what you have done." (Surah Al-Hujurat 49/6) The media is the cause of many strife in today's world. For this reason, we need to create media organizations that are suitable for us, that show the right path not only for Muslims but also for the people of the world, express their honest opinions, care about moral values, and value humanity. The more powerful the media, the more change it can create in people's thoughts and lives. In Sri Lanka, where we have lived as a minority for approximately 1300 years, there is neither a television channel, a radio channel nor a newspaper belonging to Muslims. Considering all these reasons, we established a website-based media company about 4 years ago. Under the name Newsnow.lk, PAHANA Media Pvt. Ltd. We started our media business by registering the company with official transactions. Our purpose of establishing this company is because of the reasons I mentioned above. In other words, "Baldatun Tayyiba". In order to create a good country, we have established this media organization in order to create a just and honest country that cares about its moral values, cares about humanity and thinks in society. Because we are a minority, we had to walk on a road full of obstacles. We continue to broadcast our news in Sinhala, the language of the Buddhist people living in Sri Lanka, in Tamil, the language of the Hindus - and very recently in English. That's why it's very important for us to help people and other organizations to make our media organization very strong.
"WE ARE HAPPY TO SEE ERBAKAN'S STUDENTS"
We were very pleased with your visit to the Milli Gazete. Can we get your feelings and thoughts about this visit?
We met many people and institutions in Istanbul, but the meeting in the Milli Gazete was different for us in many ways. First of all, when we entered the Millî Gazete facilities, I observed that they welcomed us politely through the door, and it was a fraternal welcome. The respect and love they showed us was very different for me. Listening to our problems and the answers they gave us made us even more happy. We were amazed that they said that they would do their best to meet our needs and that they cared about our problems. It was indeed very pleasing for us that they regarded us as their brothers, as a part of the Ummah, and took care of us, without looking at us as strangers. It was a privilege for me to see the students of the late Prof. Dr. Necmettin Erbakan, a great thinker and leader of the 20th century in the Islamic world, and this was another reason that made me happy. While we were talking about the late Erbakan, I saw the feelings that emerged in Mr. Kurdas and I understood how much they respected the deceased Erbakan and how much they cared about his ideas. The late Erbakan was not an ordinary person, he was a great leader respected not only within the borders of Turkey, but throughout the Islamic world. Another important issue that Mr. Kurdas mentioned when we visited was that we should adhere to the religion of Islam and shape every step of our lives accordingly. He also mentioned that the biggest reason why the Islamic world is far behind today is that we do not live Islam as it is. Also, during this visit, I had great hope and belief that they would meet the needs and shortcomings of PAHANA Media. We hope that together with the Milli Gazete, we will be able to carry out very good works and to achieve greater works.
“ERBAKAN HODJA WAS A WORLD LEADER”
What would you like to say about the leader of Milli Gorus Movement, Prof. Dr. Necmettin Erbakan?
There is actually a lot to talk about and say about the late Prof. Dr. Necmettin Erbakan. He became Prime Minister and in a short time became an exemplary leader loved by many in the Islamic world. Articles about Erbakan Hodja were published in Arabic and other languages. After reading these articles, I wanted to know more about Erbakan Hodja. In 1990-1991, I wrote and published an article about Erbakan Hodja for the first time in Tamil in Sri Lanka. We used to talk about Erbakan Hodja, not only with me, but also with many young people and scholars who were interested in the problems of the Islamic world. We used to talk about the coming to power of such a leader in Turkey, that he would make great changes, that he was working and will work on the Islamic world and the consciousness of the Ummah. In fact, some people in Sri Lanka named their children "Erbakan" because of the respect and love for Erbakan Hodja. He was a very important leader not only for Turkey but for the entire Islamic world. May Allah make his place heaven. May Almighty Allah grant us to take steps in many good works with the awareness of this ummah that he left us.