The Jerusalem Day program organized by the Anatolian Youth Association (AGD) was held under the Ankara Hacı Bayram-ı Veli Mosque. While the importance of Jerusalem for Muslims came to the fore in the program, messages of freedom were given to Jerusalem. Speaking at the program, the President of the Anatolian Youth Association Salih Turhan pointed out that Jerusalem and Masjid al-Aqsa should be located in the hearts of every Muslim and said, "The occupation of Jerusalem is not only a problem for the people of Jerusalem."
The Quds Day program held in Ankara Haci Bayram-ı Veli Mosque started with a recitation of the Holy Qur’an followed by a slide show about the history of Palestine. In the program, AGD Chairman Salih Turhan, Felicity (Saadet) Party Chairman Temel Karamollaoğlu, Iranian Ambassador Mohammed Farazmand and Pakistan Ambassador Undersecretary Abbas Sarwar Qureshi made speeches.
TURHAN: “ZIONISM CAN ONLY BRING THE SLAVERY”
Making the opening speech of the program, Anatolian Youth Association President Salih Turhan pointed out that the lands of Jerusalem are among the lands considered holy in the Qur'an and emphasized that Jerusalem is important for every Muslim. Turhan added, “It is stated in the Qur'an that there are fertile and blessed lands for Masjid al-Aqsa and its surroundings, Palestinian lands and its surroundings at many points. We believe with all our hearts that Jerusalem is the biggest test of Muslims. Today, Masjid al-Aqsa, our first qibla, is under occupation. The occupation of Jerusalem is not just a problem for the people of Jerusalem. Jerusalem should be in the hearts of everyone who says I am a Muslim. Everyone on earth has the right to live. They say that Jerusalem is the center of the 3 Abrahamic religions, this is a corruption. Because there is only one Abrahamic religion. The heirs of Jerusalem are those who believe in tawhid. Stopping the blood and tears flowing on the earth will be with an approach that prioritizes the right. Zionism, which claims the supremacy of a race, can only bring the order of slavery.”
KARAMOLLAOĞLU: “OUR PALESTINIAN BROTHERS HAVE BEEN LIVING WITH TROUBLES FOR 100 YEARS”
Pointing out that Jerusalem has a special importance for Muslims, Saadet Party Chairman Temel Karamollaoğlu stated that Israel is a state of persecution and said, “People living in Jerusalem have lived a peaceful life for centuries, but unfortunately for the last 70-odd years certainly, almost for 100 years, they have always lived in trouble, our Muslim brothers there. Without knowing where it came from or how it was decided, an institution working under the name of the United Nations (UN) decided to establish a Zionist state in the Palestinian territories as if it were their father's property. Such an event has not happened in the world. Especially, it is a decision that grants them the lands on which the Jews do not live.”
KARAMOLLAOĞLU: “STATE OF ISRAEL IS A STATE OF OPPRESSION”
Pointing out that the persecution has continued to this day after the decision taken by the UN, Karamollaoğlu reminded that the developed countries did not speak out against what happened in Palestine, and added, “Palestine lands are now referred to as Israel's lands. At first, the Palestinians who lived in Jerusalem were completely the owner of their properties, but over time, the Palestinians who lived in their homes are now forced to leave their homes by the cruel Israeli state. It is allocated to a Jew who came from the other side of the world, who may not have heard of Palestine in his life. Developed countries do not oppose these decisions. Palestinians who do not accept these resolutions are declared terrorists. A complete oppression mechanism is operating in Palestine. The state that is said to be the Jewish state is exactly a state of oppression.”
FARAZMAND: “NORMALIZATION STEPS HAVE ENCOURAGED ZIONISTS”
Pointing out that Palestine will continue to be a matter of the Islamic Ummah until its liberation, Iranian Ambassador Mohammed Farazmand reminded the normalization steps of some Islamic countries with Israel and said, “The normalization steps of some Islamic and Arab countries with the Zionist regime have further encouraged the Zionists and led to an increase in persecution. Finally, their arrogantly attacks to Masjid al-Aqsa are the result of taking a step back against the child-murdering Zionist regime. Undoubtedly, the so-called Abrahamic Treaty was planned as a Western and diabolical plan to create conflict and rift between Islamic countries. It aims to show the wrong address about the source that threatens the peace in the region.”
QURESHI: “AS PAKISTAN, WE SIDE WITH THE MUSLIM STATE OF PALESTINE”
Mentioning that the Zionist State of Israel targeted Jerusalem and Masjid al-Aqsa in the recent attacks, Pakistani Ambassador Undersecretary Abbas Sarwar Qureshi stated that Pakistan stands with Palestine in the Jerusalem case and said, “Jerusalem day is the day to show our loyalty to the Palestinian people and to remember them again. It reminds the international community that we must stand by the Palestinians whose promises and rights have been defeated. Recent events again show that the Zionist regime is targeting Jerusalem and Masjid al-Aqsa again. Pakistan has always demonstrated its support to the Palestinians. At the meeting held by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) last month, its support for Palestine was clearly demonstrated. We support the implementation of the pre-1967 borders and the dual state administration in the decisions of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the implementation of the Palestinian state system with Jerusalem as the capital, in particular the right of the Palestinian people to govern themselves and other fundamental rights.”
