Turkey: Gaza's plight dominates political Eid messages
Shadow of slaughter of Palestinians looms over three-day Eid al-Fitr holiday
ANKARA
The tragedy of more than 1,000 Palestinians being killed during Israel’s offensive on the Gaza Strip has been at the forefront of Eid al-Fitr messages issued by Turkish politicians.
President Abdullah Gul said in his message on the eve of the Islamic holiday known as “Ramazan Bayrami” in Turkish: “We, as the Muslim world, are welcoming a sad Eid al-Fitr.
“We are faced with a heart-wrenching picture of the Islamic geography, particularly in Gaza, Iraq and Syria, because of all the pain suffered, blood and tears shed.”
He said Israel was committing a crime against humanity in Gaza by killing innocent civilians including children, women and old people.
“What is more worrying, is to see that all parties of the conflict and the international community remain impotent in the face of this perilous, threatening course of events,” he added.
The latest fatalities have brought the number of Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip since July 7 to 1,060, according to the Palestinian health ministry. At least 6,300 Palestinians have also been injured.
'Muslims killing Muslims'
Gul said what was particularly painful was to see Muslim killing Muslims in some parts of the Islamic world.
He said: “Despite all the conflicts in our near geography and the fluctuations in the world, Turkey has managed to sustain its development and growth in stability.
“Turkey is like an island of security in its region. We need to know the value of our country, our solidarity, cohesion and brotherhood.”
He said he believed religiously important days like Eid al-Fitr have the power to help Muslims remember their humanitarian responsibilities in the face of all the conflicts and crises in the world.
The three-day Eid al-Fitr holiday, which marks the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, begins on Monday.
'Bittersweet joy'
Parliament Speaker Cemil Cicek stressed in his message for the religious holiday that the current state of the Islamic world made it impossible to feel the joy of Eid al-Fitr.
He said: "I would like to express this with great regret that, just like the previous Eids, we are again witnessing heartrending events in the world.
"That the majority of these events are happening in lands where Muslims live only adds to our grief and pain."
He said it should not be expected that Turkey remains silent on the developments which have transformed Turkey's borders into a circle of fire.
Spiritual atmosphere
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan praised the Turkish people for extending its helping hand for people suffering in flashpoint areas like Syria, Gaza, Tel Afar and East Turkistan during Ramadan.
"Throughout Ramadan, we enjoyed the peace, cohesion and abundance of breathing in the same spiritual atmosphere as one, brotherly nation," Erdogan said in his message celebrating Eid al-Fitr.
He also celebrated Turkish people's support for the Palestinian cause since Israel began its latest series of offensives against Gaza on June 7.
He said: "Our nation, just like the way it demands peace, justice, freedom and welfare at home, demands all these for its geography and neighbors too.
"This is what befits Turkey. We will continue demanding what we want for ourselves for the rest of the world."
Bloodshed and tears
The main opposition Republican People's Party chairman Kemal Kilicdaroglu said: "I am calling on everyone believing in human rights and freedoms, everyone who has conscience and responsibility to assume their responsibilities and to act in order to stop the bloodshed and tears in the Islamic geography."
In his message for the holiday, Kilicdaroglu said the fear of death and financial difficulties had taken precedence over the joy of the Eid al-Fitr in the Middle East.
"We are entering an Eid with gashes inflicted on our neighbors by those who are exploiting the religion and committing atrocities like beheading people, and demolishing mosques and shrines," he said.
