“We need to prepare a joint action plan that is going to mobilize entire humanity for Jerusalem”

With the participation of the Ministers and Presidents of Religious Affairs and the Chief Muftis, the ‘Urgent Meeting on Jerusalem’ was held with the agenda of ‘’Masjid al-Aqsa and Jerusalem’’ by the Presidency of Religious Affairs in line with the instruction of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Giving a speech at the meeting that was held online in order to exchange views on the recent events and what can be done in the face of the attacks of the occupant terrorist state Israel against the Masjid al-Aqsa and the Palestinians, the President of Religious Affairs Prof. Dr. Ali Erbaş said, “Jerusalem is the test of law, morals and conscience for humanity altogether. Jerusalem is the test of iman and brotherhood of the Islamic ummah. Jerusalem is the common issue not only of Palestinians or Arabs, but also of all Muslims and even humanity.”

“Honor and dignity of Muslims are being violated”

Expressing that the occupant terrorist state Israel has tried to occupy the Masjid al-Aqsa in a completely barbaric and violent behavior and that has brutally attacked the innocent Muslims in the Masjid al-Aqsa, the President of Religious Affairs Prof. Dr. Ali Erbaş used the following expressions, “The heritage of humanity is being destructed. The memory of Prophet Muhammad is being intervened unashamedly. The city that symbolizes religions, cultures, civilizations is being messed up. The Masjid al-Aqsa’s status of being a sacred area is being violated. Honor and dignity of Muslims are being violated. It can be practically said that a war has been started against the first qibla of Islam.”

“Jerusalem is the memory of knowledge and values of the Islamic civilization”

Drawing attention to the fact that Jerusalem, which is the memory of knowledge and values of the Islamic civilization, was a city and home of peace when it was administered by Muslims, the President of Religious Affairs Prof. Dr. Ali Erbaş stated that Jerusalem has become the city of pain and tears after the Islamic geography was occupied following the First World War, that the historical venues have been destroyed in an attempt to cut the city’s connections with the sacred values, and the people of Jerusalem have been forced to leave the city through continuous oppression and practices against them.

Noting that the invasions on lands that started with small areas have turned into a planned occupation in which the Jewish population increases day by day, the President of Religious Affairs Prof. Dr. Ali Erbaş said, “In this process, Muslims have been subjected to continuous oppression, persecution, torture, and even massacres. An occupant community that was built as a handful of minorities in the center of the Islamic geography has become the biggest obstacle to peace and tranquility in the Middle East with its reckless and spoiled attitudes that disregard international law, morals and sacred values ​​with the support of some power centers.”

“The entire world knows that Muslims are going to form the greatest power of the world when they unite”

Underlining the fact that those who have occupied Jerusalem are encouraged by the disorganized picture of the Islamic communities, the President of Religious Affairs Prof. Dr. Ali Erbaş continued his words as follows,

“Today, we, the Muslims, have to make a serious and deep-rooted evaluation altogether. We have to consider the factors that weaken the Ummah and make it look disorganized. Today, we can no longer be content with shouting slogans and lamenting for the dead. We have to take concrete, permanent and realistic steps in order to come up with a solution. We must pull ourselves together and ensure the unity of the ummah immediately. This is not a difficult task. This movement should be led by scholars. The entire world knows that Muslims are going to form the greatest power of the World in all aspects when they unite their opportunities and potentials.”

“The only solution is Ummah’s being united and preventing the oppression and the occupation.”

“It has been crystal clear now that those who occupy Palestine and Jerusalem and those who drag the world into wars and chaos don’t care and mind any of the values ​​of law, justice, conscience, democracy, human rights and the like. The only solution is ummah’s being united and preventing the oppression and the occupation.”

Pointing out the fact that the way to prevent occupation and oppression in Jerusalem is Muslims’ acting in unity and solidarity, the President of Religious Affairs Prof. Dr. Ali Erbaş made the following evaluation, “The more Muslims have been in unity and solidarity, the more Jerusalem has become a city of peace, security and well-being throughout history. The more Muslims have lost their ability to act together, take joint decisions and implement them, and have considered the diversity and differences within their own bodies as a reason for fighting, the more Jerusalem has lost its characteristic of being Dar-es-Salaam, that is to say, the land of peace, security and well-being.’’

“Jerusalem can be an occasion of awakening for the Ummah”

Pointing out that Jerusalem can be an occasion of awakening and unity for the Ummah, the President of Religious Affairs Prof. Dr. Ali Erbaş expressed the followings,

“Jerusalem can be a means of saving its honor that has been broken and its homeland that has been ruined for a century. Indeed, Jerusalem has constituted a ground that brought Muslims together materially and spiritually from the past to the present. After the crusader invasion in the year 1099, all Muslims gathered for Jerusalem and saved Jerusalem from occupation. Today’s Organization of Islamic Cooperation was established for Jerusalem in 1969 with the name of the Organization of the Islamic Conference when Jerusalem and Masjid-Aqsa were occupied. Today, the ummah can again come together around the issues of Jerusalem and Masjid al-Aqsa. Because the hearts of all believers in the world are in Masjid al-Aqsa. When we turn this into complete unity, Jerusalem is going to be free then.’’

“The entire humanity is responsible for objecting to the occupation and defending Jerusalem”

“In this context, we need to accelerate the works which are going to unite the hearts of all believers in the Islamic world. We need to raise awareness about Jerusalem to the highest point. We need to disclose the persecutions that are committed by the occupiers to the entire world. Because the entire humanity is responsible for objecting to the occupation and defending Jerusalem. That is to say, Jerusalem is a test of law, morals, and conscience for the entire humanity.

Jerusalem is the test of iman and brotherhood of the Islamic ummah. Jerusalem is the common issue not only of Palestinians or Arabs but also of all Muslims and even humanity

Now, we need to develop an effective discourse that is going to mobilize entire humanity for Jerusalem, which represents the common values of humanity, and prepare a joint action plan for this purpose.’’

“All the works that are carried out are insufficient until Jerusalem becomes free”

“We should know that all the works that are carried out are insufficient until Jerusalem becomes again the city of peace and the center of tranquility and serenity, that is to say until it becomes free in all aspects.

On this occasion, I would like to call all Muslims and humanity for doing something for Jerusalem and the Masjid al-Aqsa, with their hands, words, hearts, and all the opportunities they have.

I do condemn the occupant terrorist state one more time strongly. May the curse of the Almighty Allah, the angels, and the entire humanity be upon oppressors.

I would also like to express that we are standing by the oppressed Palestinian Muslims, who have never ended to protect the Masjid al-Aqsa for years despite all kind of oppression and persecution that they have faced, and that we are going to continue to give them all kind of support.

May the mercy of the Almighty Allah be upon those who have been martyred for the sake of this purpose, may the wounded people get well soon.

May the Almighty Allah let these efforts that are exerted by us here be an occasion to good results for Jerusalem, I do greet all of you with respect and affection.”

The meeting in which representatives of 60 countries were present is going to be ended with a declaration of conclusions to be shared with the public.