African leaders called for the establishment of a Turkey-led commission to work toward solving the continent's complex issues during a summit in İstanbul on Monday.
The “Second African Summit of Muslim Religious Leaders,” organized by Turkey's Religious Affairs Directorate and bringing together 125 religious leaders from 46 countries, began Monday at the Conrad Hotel in İstanbul.
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| African religious leaders came together in İstanbul for a summit to discuss Turkey-Africa relations, Turkey’s assistance to Africa and complex issues facing the continent. |
President of the High Islamic Council of Mali (HCIM) Mahmoud Dicko recommended that a commission led by Turkey be formed to contribute to solving the problems of Africa. Dicko, bringing attention to Turkey's important position in the East and West, said: “Our problems are not religious. We have very complex, interwoven problems. But, the issue is weapons in most of the African countries. To have a platform in our future together, a powerful country like Turkey needs to head the platform.”
In his speech, Djibouti Religious Affairs and Awqaf Minister Hamoud Abdi Sultan said: “Islamic countries are experiencing mental confusion. Natural disasters can be overcome, but there does not appear to be an easy solution to problems resulting from sect differences and internal conflicts.”
“This meeting in Turkey was inspirational. We believe that these problems could be overcome with the establishment of an independent commission under the leadership of Turkey,” he added.
During the summit, Turkey-Africa relations, Turkey's assistance to Africa and problems facing the continent were brought to the table for discussion.
In their speeches during the summit, African religious leaders, praising the achievements of Turkish schools, urged greater investment in the field of education. Recalling Turkey's outpouring of support during the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Adha (the Feast of the Sacrifice), the leaders said the Turkish public held an unwavering place in their hearts.
Calling the summit very productive, Religious Affairs Directorate President Mehmet Görmez said it would be held every two years from now on. Görmez said the purpose of the summit is to further develop relations between Turkey and Africa, which share a deep-rooted history.
Recalling that Somali students studying on scholarship in Turkey donated all they had to victims of the earthquakes in Van, Görmez said Turkey and Africa have always support one another in times of need. “This shows that the friendship between us is steady,” he said.
Somali lawmaker Mahmud Muallim Yahya praised Turkey's support to famine-stricken Somalia. “In our most difficult times, we found Turkey beside us,” he said, thanking the Turkish people for “not hesitating in their efforts to relieve our misery.”
“While the Somali people were killing one another, Turkey rushed to help us. Among the people of Turkey, bridges of fraternity were built,” Yahya said, noting that the Somali people were very upset to learn about the quakes in southeastern Turkey.
‘Turkish schools changed prejudice against white people’
Former President of the Republic of Comoros Ahmed Abdallah Mohamed Sambi, in his speech at the summit, praised Turkey's establishing schools and making other important investments in education. Stressing that education is Africa's greatest problem, Sambi said: “I have heard of the success of and appreciate the Turkish schools that serve various parts of Africa, but a school has not yet been established in my home country, and I eagerly await its opening. There have been many attempts to do so.”
“The Turkish schools have changed the prejudice against white people. They represent Islam along with education in a beautiful manner.” Sambi added.
Sultan of Bornu, Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai el-Kanemi, addressing those gathered for the summit, also thanked Turkey for its work in improving education in Africa. Kanemi, emphasizing that these efforts will be remembered in the future, said, “The African people will never forget Turkey's assistance. These educational institutions give promise to our future.”
Kanemi, stressing the importance of science and education in a globalizing world, said, “We will unite forces to overcome problems with the orientation of Islam and the light of education.”
Published on Today's Zaman, 22 November 2011, Tuesday
