In the garden of Üsküdar Üniversitesi Çarşı Campus, a “Silent Call and Absentee Funeral Prayer” event was organized to draw attention to the civilian massacres and ongoing human tragedy in Gaza. During the event, statements were read in Turkish, English, and Arabic, calling on global public opinion for justice and humanity.
Üsküdar Üniversitesi Rector's Advisor Prof. Dr. İsmail Barış: “Today, our priority is, of course, Jerusalem, Palestine, and Gaza, but before the sun sets, we must stand with all the oppressed, whether they are Uyghur Turks, in Myanmar, the Philippines, or anywhere else in the world, who are persecuted for their beliefs.”
In the garden of Üsküdar Üniversitesi Çarşı Campus, a “Silent Call and Absentee Funeral Prayer” event was organized to draw attention to the civilian massacres and ongoing human tragedy in Gaza. During the event, statements were read in Turkish, English, and Arabic, calling on global public opinion for justice and humanity.
The program took place at the initiative of Üsküdar Üniversitesi students. During the event, Rector's Advisor and Head of the Social Work Department at the Faculty of Health Sciences, Prof. Dr. İsmail Barış, participated with his speech on “Genocide Against Gaza.” Subsequently, Sadık Paksoy, Director of Health, Culture and Sports, delivered his speech titled “Call for Boycott.” In the final section, a recitation of the Holy Quran was performed, and an absentee funeral prayer was offered.
Babies live shorter lives than butterflies
Ahmet Demircan, a student at Üsküdar Üniversitesi Faculty of Medicine, who read the statement at the opening of the program, stated that they gathered to commemorate a period when humanity remained silent, saying, “Today, we are here to commemorate the ongoing genocide in Gaza on and before October 7, 2023, which will be remembered as a black stain in human history. We are talking about a time when babies live shorter lives than butterflies, children have their limbs amputated without anesthesia, and mothers raise three households and give birth saying 'sacrificed for three martyrdoms'.”
Demircan stated that it is impossible to remain silent, saying, “It is not possible for us to remain neutral in the face of this oppression where innocent children, women, and the elderly are targeted. We believe that the oppressor's tyranny will not last forever, and the prayer of the oppressed will not go unheard. May Allah make us among those who stand by truth and justice, not among those who remain silent in the face of oppression.”
Drawing attention to the universal nature of the statement, its English and Arabic texts were read during the event.
Prof. Dr. İsmail Barış: “We gathered to make our voices heard against the genocide in Gaza and Palestine”
Üsküdar Üniversitesi Rector's Advisor and Head of the Social Work Department at the Faculty of Health Sciences, Prof. Dr. İsmail Barış, in his speech titled “Genocide Against Gaza,” presented both historical and moral perspectives, stating, “We gathered from a significant university in Turkey, from the heart of Üsküdar, to make our voices heard against the genocide in Gaza and Palestine. Zionism, Judaism, and its current representative, the state of Israel, are repeating what they have done throughout history. The world should not trust them too much in the name of peace.”
Prof. Dr. İsmail Barış noted that what has been happening in Gaza and Palestine has been ongoing for years, saying, “We must be united; being strong is possible first through unity and faith. Today, our priority is, of course, Jerusalem, Palestine, and Gaza, but before the sun sets, we must stand with all the oppressed, whether they are Uyghur Turks, in Myanmar, the Philippines, or anywhere else in the world, who are persecuted for their beliefs.”
Prof. Dr. Mehmet Zelka: “Victory belongs to the believers”
At the end of the event, Üsküdar Üniversitesi Rector's Advisor Prof. Dr. Mehmet Zelka, addressing the situation of the Muslim world, continued as follows:
“Our Prophet (peace be upon him) said, ‘A time will come when nations will gather against the Ummah.’ What is happening today is exactly that. Our numbers are not few, but the love of the world and the fear of death have brought us to this state. Hope and struggle are very important. There is nothing beyond our power when we come to ourselves. Victory belongs to the believers. Allah is with us, but He expects effort from us. The youth gathered here today are the symbol of that effort.”
Emphasizing that the quest for justice regarding Gaza and Palestine is rising globally, and not only Muslims but also different communities are rising up, Prof. Dr. Zelka stated, “As we gather, we will amplify this voice and take a more effective stance against oppression. Inshallah, if we do our part, victory will be ours, and Jerusalem will achieve freedom.”
Sadık Paksoy: “We must never lose unity and solidarity”
Sadık Paksoy, Head of the Health, Culture and Sports Department at Üsküdar Üniversitesi, also spoke at the event, conveying a message of unity, saying, “Those who seized the blessings of the world have turned humanity into serfs. Today, the world, from East Turkestan to Myanmar, has turned into a blaze. Until our nation awakens, humanity will not find peace. These young people are our hope. You will carry this flag higher and facilitate the awakening of the Ummah. We must be at the forefront of knowledge and never lose unity and solidarity.”
Following the speeches, Enes Salih Topal performed a recitation of the Holy Quran.
The program concluded with an absentee funeral prayer performed for the civilians and martyrs who lost their lives in Gaza.
Throughout the event, participants called upon the conscience of humanity in an atmosphere of silence, prayer, and solidarity.
Photo: Ebranur Özdemir