Turkish parliament speaker voices wish for happy Eid to all humanity

ANKARA

Turkey's parliament speaker on Wednesday wished a happy Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr, peace, and fellowship to all humanity and the end of the COVID-19 pandemic that is ravaging the world.

Mustafa Sentop emphasized the significance of humane feelings reinforced by the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in a video message voicing gratitude for ongoing actions of charity and solidarity in the Muslim world.

He said the joy of the holiday, which begins Thursday, has been overshadowed by the pandemic and the atrocities the people of Jerusalem are facing, but added that Muslims "tasted one again the joy of being a community" despite pandemic measures.

"We are deeply saddened by the raids and attacks on vulnerable Palestinian civilians, including babies, children, women and the elderly, with the use of lethal weapons by Israeli soldiers," said Sentop.

He added that it is "a moral and legal responsibility for the whole world to act" to prevent Israel from performing ethnic cleansing, forcibly expelling Palestinians from their homeland, confiscating their property, attacking those who are performing worship, preventing Muslims from going to Al-Aqsa Mosque, and blocking Palestinians from exercising their legitimate rights.

Sentop reiterated that Turkey will continue to use all opportunities under international law to solve "the problem of Israel" more actively and effectively and with determination.

* Writing by Dilan Pamuk in Ankara