The event was part of a broader wave of protests and expressions of support for Palestinians across the Muslim world, highlighting the deepening outrage in the region.
HÜDA PAR Yenişehir District Chairman Mehmet Demir addressed the crowd, framing the conflict in Gaza within a larger historical and religious context. “The primary reason for the century-long persecution of our Palestinian brothers and sisters is their steadfast belief in Allah,” Demir declared, drawing from a Quranic verse. He described the current Israeli military actions as the "most brutal genocide in human history," where civilians in Gaza are being bombarded with phosphorus bombs, and basic human needs such as food, water, and medical supplies are being deliberately withheld.
Demir highlighted the dire situation in Gaza, where the population is enduring unprecedented suffering. “Our brothers and sisters in Gaza are being subjected to unimaginable horrors,” he said. “They are bombarded day and night, their streets turned into rivers of blood, yet they remain unbroken in their faith and determination.” Despite these atrocities, he noted, the people of Gaza have remained resilient, refusing to abandon their homeland or their faith.
“Muslims in Palestine and all over the world will not give up their struggle at the cost of their lives,” Demir emphasized, underlining that the Palestinian resistance is deeply rooted in Islamic faith and history. He drew parallels between the current struggles in Gaza and past persecutions faced by Muslims in other parts of the world, asserting that the Muslim community has always stood firm in the face of oppression. “Just as our ancestors resisted the tyrants of their time, so too will we resist. The only place where we bow is before our Lord, and the infidels will have to accept this.”
Following Demir's speech, Cengiz Aydın delivered a press statement on behalf of the Prophet’s Lovers Foundation, further expanding on the themes of resistance and solidarity. Aydın harshly criticized the international community, particularly Western powers, for their support of Israel. “Zionist Jews and evangelical Christians have joined hands to occupy our sacred lands,” he said. “They have vowed to take over Al-Aqsa Mosque and Gaza, and unfortunately, some of our own leaders are aiding them in this evil scheme.”
Aydın was particularly critical of the support provided to Israel by some Muslim leaders, whom he accused of betraying the Palestinian cause. “The silence of these so-called leaders, who claim to represent the Muslim Ummah, is nothing short of complicity,” Aydın argued. “They are partners in the genocide, and history will remember them as such.”
The protest also touched on the geopolitical dynamics of the Middle East. Aydın expressed deep disappointment over the continued trade relations between Türkiye and Israel, particularly the transfer of Azerbaijani oil to Israel via Türkiye. “It is a great mistake,” he asserted, “and a betrayal of the Palestinian cause. We demand that the Turkish government immediately cease all dealings with the Zionist regime.”
The speakers at the event did not spare Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas from criticism. Aydın argued that Abbas, who is often seen as the international face of the Palestinian Authority, does not represent the true aspirations of the Palestinian people. “Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas in Gaza, or another Hamas official, should be the ones speaking in our parliaments,” he said. “Not Mahmoud Abbas, who didn’t even attend the funeral of Martyr Ismail Haniyeh. His words hold no value in the eyes of those who are truly fighting for our people.”
Aydın pointed out that Abbas's decision not to attend the funeral of Ismail Heniyye, a prominent Hamas leader who was recently martyred, was a significant oversight that diminished his credibility among Palestinians and their supporters. He asserted that Abbas's speech in the Turkish Parliament, which had been intended to rally international support, held little value in the eyes of those who are actively engaged in the resistance. “Abbas’s speech in the Parliament is meaningless to those who are shedding their blood for our cause.”
The demonstration also served as a platform to condemn recent Israeli military actions, including the attack on Palestinian worshippers at the Tabeen School in Gaza. “The massacre at the Tabeen School is yet another proof that the Zionist occupiers have no regard for human life,” Aydın stated. “They are not satisfied with merely displacing our people; they seek to eradicate us completely. But we will not be erased.”
Aydın also criticized the United States for its role in supporting Israel, particularly through the approval of a $20 billion arms sale to the Israeli government. “These weapons are not just tools of war; they are instruments of genocide,” he said. “And the United States, the so-called defender of human rights, is complicit in this atrocity.”
He urged Muslim leaders to wake up to the reality of the situation and to take decisive action against Israel and its allies. “The Great Satan, the United States, has shown its true colors. It is time for the leaders of the Muslim world to stand against this evil alliance.”
The protest concluded with a call for greater unity among Muslims worldwide. The speakers urged Muslims to intensify their efforts to support the Palestinian cause, both through grassroots activism and by pressuring their governments to take stronger stances against Israel. “Let us spend all our energy to mobilize our states,” Aydın appealed to the crowd. “If our leaders do not act, we will be against them, and we will consider them partners in this crime.”
The event in Diyarbakır was not just a local demonstration but a reflection of the broader sentiment within the Muslim world, where there is growing frustration with the international community's response to the crisis in Gaza. The protesters vowed to continue their support for the Palestinian resistance, reaffirming their commitment to the cause of justice and liberation for the Palestinian people. “Our brothers and sisters in Gaza are not alone,” Demir concluded. “We are with them, and we will not rest until justice is served.” (ILKHA)