Top cleric calls to aid Palestine financially
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Hurriyet Daily News
OluÅŸturulma Tarihi: Ocak 09, 2009 00:00
ANKARA - An aid campaign for Palestinians has been announced by Turkey's top cleric, who said they would be close to Palestinians not only in hearts and prayers, but also economically.
Ali BardakoÄŸlu, head of the Religious Affairs Directorate, spoke at a press conference yesterday and said they wanted to voice the joint feelings of people who have love in their hearts following the Israeli attack on Gaza.Â
"We consider it as a necessity to become involved on behalf of victims when we come across human tragedy, regardless of religion, language and ethnic identity. It is as a result of being human and Muslim we are on the side of the people of Gaza," he said.
"We have launched an aid campaign both within the country and abroad for Palestinian people and we expect public support. The necessity to provide support, is itself a shame, what is required is the cessation of the war."
The campaign will be launched in mosques today across the country and is aimed to meet the day-to-day needs of Palestinians.
Contribute the campaign
Praising the media support and sensitivity on the issue, BardakoÄŸlu said the Turkish nation would support the Palestinian people not only in their hearts and prayers, but also through the campaign, and urged everyone to contribute to the campaign.
BardakoÄŸlu also said what was happening in the Middle East was not a war between civilizations and religions, that it was a type of ambush by those who want to clash over religion and holy matters. He said the world had to review its perception of Muslims and that Muslims needed unity.
The campaign will run until Jan. 16. Details of the bank accounts to donate to will be posted in visible places in mosques and the public can contribute to the campaign over the Internet. Those who wish to contribute to the campaign can make donations to the directorate’s donation account numbered 2035392 in Vakıflar Bank’s Ankara Meşrutiyet Branch and account number 7967366-5002 in Ziraat Bank’s Mithatpaşa Branch.
"We consider it as a necessity to become involved on behalf of victims when we come across human tragedy, regardless of religion, language and ethnic identity. It is as a result of being human and Muslim we are on the side of the people of Gaza," he said.
"We have launched an aid campaign both within the country and abroad for Palestinian people and we expect public support. The necessity to provide support, is itself a shame, what is required is the cessation of the war."
The campaign will be launched in mosques today across the country and is aimed to meet the day-to-day needs of Palestinians.
Contribute the campaign
Praising the media support and sensitivity on the issue, BardakoÄŸlu said the Turkish nation would support the Palestinian people not only in their hearts and prayers, but also through the campaign, and urged everyone to contribute to the campaign.
BardakoÄŸlu also said what was happening in the Middle East was not a war between civilizations and religions, that it was a type of ambush by those who want to clash over religion and holy matters. He said the world had to review its perception of Muslims and that Muslims needed unity.
The campaign will run until Jan. 16. Details of the bank accounts to donate to will be posted in visible places in mosques and the public can contribute to the campaign over the Internet. Those who wish to contribute to the campaign can make donations to the directorate’s donation account numbered 2035392 in Vakıflar Bank’s Ankara Meşrutiyet Branch and account number 7967366-5002 in Ziraat Bank’s Mithatpaşa Branch.