President Gül Has Iftar with Syrian Refugees in the Province of Malatya
22.07.2014
President Gül had iftar (fast-breaking dinner) with the Syrian refugees staying at the camp in the eastern province of Malatya. Pointing to the significance of helping people in need, the President said: “We witness a similar fraternity between Turkish and Syrian people to that seen between the Ansar and Muhajireen during the Prophet Muhammed’s time in Madina. A Muslim is supposed to help and embrace others in need. We are trying to perform our duties in this regard.”
President Abdullah Gül was welcomed by Governor Vasip Şahin and other officials at Erhaç Airport.
“WE SHARE YOUR AGONIES IN OUR HEARTS”
The President later proceeded to the Beydağı camp established for Syrian refugees with whom he had iftar there and he was informed by the AFAD Chairman Fuat Oktay and Governor Şahin about the 7. 616 Syrian refugees 90 % of whom are Turkmen and 10 % Arab people. After that, President Gül, exploring a textile atelier at the camp, chatted with a group of people there and later had iftar with Syrian refugees.
“My dear brothers and sisters!” exclaimed the President at the very beginning of his speech to the refugees, and evinced his pleasure at having iftar with them. Pointing to the difficult times the Syrian people are going through, the President underscored the significance of helping the ones in need, saying: “We witness a similar fraternity between Turkish and Syrian people to that seen between the Ansar and Muhajireen during the Prophet Muhammed’s time in Medina. A Muslim is supposed to help and embrace others in need. We are trying to perform our duties in this regard.”
The peoples of Turkey and Syria, noted President Gül, have a thousand-year-long amity and extended his thanks and appreciation to the Turkish nation and all the relevenat officials who have opened their hearts to the Syrian refugees, demonstrating Turkish hospitality to them in many parts of the country. He further shared his sadness about the ongoing sorrows, agonies, tears and bloodshed in the Islamic world. “We feel like as if our own homes were ablaze when such great Syrian cities as Damascus, Aleppo, Hama, Homs and Idlib are being destroyed.”
“TURKEY IS MAKING EVERY EFFORT SO THAT PEACE CAN BE RE-ESTABLISHED IN SYRIA”
Turkey, the President reiterated, is making tireless efforts in order that peace can be re-established in Syria and suggested to the Syrian refugees living at camps in the country that they take advantage of the amenities and opportunities which the government provides for them in such areas as health and education. “Syria is not the only country ablaze today. No one can predict how the ongoing events in Iraq will evolve. As members of a religion that teaches ‘One who goes to bed with a full stomach when his neighbor is hungry is not one of us’, we cannot feel alright when our neighbors are going through sorrows and brutalities. About the incidents in Gaza, those who are conducting these vicious assaults on the Palestinians must be feeling very good when the Muslim world is in such a grave situation. We vehemently condemn these assaults and are making every effort so that these attacks can end.”
Declaring that Turkey and the Turkish nation will always be in close solidarity with their Syrian siblings, President Gül expressed his wish that these heartwrenching events end, that the administrations of these countries act with common sense, that they understand nothing can be solved through cruelties and that they embrace their own citizens.
President Gül, afterwards, visited two Syrian families and listened to their concerns. He, during his visits, gave baby dolls to girls and toy cars to boys.
The President later visited the city hall where he was welcomed by Mayor Ahmet Çakır. Afterwards, he had a memoir photo taken with the citizens waiting for him in front of the municipality. Deputy Prime Minister Beşir Atalay also accompanied President Gül on his visit.
Having completed his program in Malatya, President Gül returned to Ankara.
