BEING IN PHILISTINE ON THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ADOPTION OF THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS
BEING IN PHILISTINE ON THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ADOPTION OF THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS
On 1 December 2023 at 14.00, Biruni University held a programme titled "Being in Palestine on the 75th Anniversary of the Adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights". On 1 December 2023 at 14.00, the press, business community, faculty members and students, especially Turkish Politician and Journalist Resul Tosun, came together for our Palestinian brothers and sisters. The programme started with the presentation of Corporate Communication Director Serpil BÖCEK and continued with a moment of silence. Then, Ibrahim Taha Akıncı, a 5th year student of Biruni University Faculty of Pharmacy, recited the Quran for our brothers and sisters who were martyred in Palestine and Gaza.
Turkish Politician and Journalist Resul TOSUN:
Resul TOSUN, who took the stage to make his speech, said, "All the world's lenses are focused on Gaza and unfortunately a great human tragedy is taking place. The death and injury of tens of thousands of people are exhibited in front of the eyes of humanity." and stated that a massacre was carried out blatantly. Continuing his words, TOSUN said, "If we look at the issue only after 7 October, if we look at the issue only in the context of Gaza, we will be mistaken. The essence of the issue is the resistance of Palestinians against occupation. Resistance against occupation is the most natural human right." He said that we should focus on the big picture. Continuing his speech by mentioning the recent history of the resistance in Palestine, TOSUN said, "The "Palestine Liberation Organisation" (PLO), which resisted the occupation, defended the freedom of the Palestinian people against the occupation in Palestine by acting as a kind of umbrella without discriminating religion, language, race and political opinion. When the PLO and its members became passive in the resistance, the people grew cold towards the PLO and HAMAS, an Islamic jihad organisation, emerged." Continuing his statements with the following words for those who claim that HAMAS does not represent the Palestinians, he said, "HAMAS is the ruling party of Palestine. In 2006, it was elected and became the ruling party alone. Israel and the West are judging HAMAS only on the basis of the 7 October Operation." Tosun quoted the hypocrisy of the West. Tosun said, "HAMAS has proved to the whole world that this issue is not a matter of possibility, but faith, will and patience. The most important thing it has shown to the world is that it awakens the conscience of humanity on the side of Gazans and Palestinians." Tosun emphasised the importance of what happened with his words. He ended his speech with the following lines of Niyazi Yıldırım GENÇOSMANOĞLU:
When Allah is not praised/ Good works cannot be repaired/ even all the waters freeze/ Oceans cannot freeze/ Love is a special fire that cannot burn in every hearth/ The hearth of love is the heart/ Not every bird can arrive and land/ To the bird that arrives and lands at the moment/ Its meat can never be eaten/ Homeland, The love of flag, nation/ Cannot be broken by blowing/ If it can be extinguished like that/ The world can not turn like this/ Those who do not understand the language of right/ Can not provide service to the people/ The state is a noble steed/ Villians can not ride/ If it can ride/ The oppressed can not rest...
After their speeches, they were presented an award by Prof. Adnan YÜKSEL, Rector of Biruni University. The programme continued with the poetry recital of the poet Ahmet Nur's poem "Gam Değil" read by Serpil Böcek.
Biruni University Faculty of Education Dean Prof. Dr. Adnan ÖMERUSTAOĞLU:
ÖMERUSTAOĞLU, who took the floor to make his speech on "Being in Palestine on the 75th Anniversary of the Adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights", said: "What is the Palestinian issue to us? It is an event that we cannot say. Because the conquest of this region was in 1516-1517 by the Ottoman Empire. We dominated these lands for 400 years and ruled this geography peacefully." and emphasised the persecution and massacres brought by the Israelis and the British to the Palestinian lands, unlike the Ottoman Empire. ÖMERUSTAOĞLU said, "This issue has been going on for thousands of years. A total of 8 Crusades were organised from 1096 to 1170. Now they are all gathered in the Eastern Mediterranean as if they are on a kind of Crusade again.", emphasising that they have been targeting Jerusalem and Palestine from the past to the present and that this aim continues today. ÖMERUSTAOĞLU said, "Power without justice is cruel, and justice without power is powerless. The whole issue is here." and stated that power and justice are indispensable elements in such matters. ÖMERUSTAOĞLU concluded his speech with Necip Fazıl KISAKÜREK's poem "Letter from Dungeon to Mehmed" by saying "I believe that the dawn will rise for Palestinians".
After his speech, Biruni University Faculty of Education Dean Adnan ÖMERUSTAOĞLU was presented an award prepared for him by Biruni University Rector Prof. Adnan YÜKSEL. The programme ended with Serpil BÖCEK's words, "It is our greatest wish that the war will end as soon as possible and that this persecution of the oppressed will stop."