The event took place after Friday prayers at the Central Mosque on Cumhuriyet Street and saw a significant turnout from the local community.
The rally began with an opening speech by Şaban Gökhan, the Provincial Chairman of HÜDA PAR. He set the tone for the event, highlighting the urgent need to stand in solidarity with the people of Gaza and condemn the actions of the Zionist regime.
Following Gökhan’s address, Muhammet Arif Yılmaz, President of Hope Caravan Association, read a comprehensive statement on behalf of the gathered crowd. "We have gathered together to condemn the genocide committed by the Zionist occupation regime in Gaza, to stand by the Gaza resistance, and to support the resistance," Yılmaz began. He condemned the ongoing genocide in Gaza, describing it as "unprecedented cruelty" in modern history. He accused the Zionist alliance of committing daily massacres, bombings, and unimaginable crimes against the civilian population of Gaza, including babies, children, women, and the elderly.
Yılmaz emphasized the severity of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where people have been experiencing extreme violence and suffering for nearly ten months. He described the Zionist regime as an "alliance of evil" that exploits the disunity among the Ummah and leverages racial, sectarian, political, and ethnic conflicts to further its brutal agenda. "Despite the daily atrocities, the people of Gaza have shown remarkable resilience and have not bowed to oppression," he stated.
In his speech, Yılmaz praised the steadfastness of the Palestinian people, highlighting their unwavering will to struggle despite being wounded, martyred, expelled, and suffered from hunger and thirst. "Our Palestinian brothers and sisters have been subjected to all forms of torture. They have experienced all the weaknesses of the global system. But they never bowed down to oppression and oppressors," Yılmaz declared. "They continued to defend the dignity of humanity, and they still continue to do so."
Yılmaz called on Muslim peoples and state leaders to take concrete actions in support of Gaza. He urged the free peoples of the world to boycott products that support the Zionist occupation regime and to support initiatives aimed at recognizing the Palestinian state and ending the massacres in Gaza. "We support the efforts of the states that are making efforts for the recognition of the Palestinian state and the cessation of massacres in Gaza," he said. He also backed the conditions set by Hamas for a permanent ceasefire and called for international pressure on the Zionist regime to ensure a lasting peace, the withdrawal of occupiers, and the delivery of humanitarian aid.
Yılmaz expressed strong support for HÜDA PAR’s legislative proposal to strip Turkish citizenship from Zionists who participated in the conflict and committed genocide in Gaza. "We support HÜDA PAR's legislative proposal that Zionists who are Turkish citizens and took part in the ranks of the Zionist occupation army should be deprived of citizenship, punished with life imprisonment, and their assets confiscated," he announced. He appealed to all parties and MPs in the Turkish Parliament to support this proposal as a matter of conscience and humanitarian responsibility.
In his concluding remarks, Yılmaz reaffirmed the group’s commitment to defending Jerusalem and opposing the Zionist occupation regime until it is “thrown into the sea and wiped off the map.” He emphasized that their struggle would continue with determination until justice is achieved for the people of Gaza. "We will continue to defend the cause of Jerusalem with determination until the Zionist occupation regime is thrown into the sea and wiped off the map," he declared.
The rally in Ağrı is part of a broader wave of protests and advocacy efforts by various groups in Turkey in response to the genocide in Gaza. The event underscored the deep sense of solidarity among the participants and their collective resolve to support the Palestinian cause. (ILKHA)