Countries should recognise Palestine as independent state – Erdogan
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan visited Sudan, Chad and Tunisia, last week, bringing to 24 the number of African countries he has visited. In this interview with AllAfrica’s executive chair, Amadou Mahtar Ba, at the Presidential Palace in Ankara,
What do [decisions on Israel] at the United Nations Security Council and at the General Assembly mean to the Muslim world?
For the Islamic world, AlAqsa Mosque is very important because it’s our first qibla [the direction Muslims face to pray]. And of course, Al-Quds [the Arabic word for Jerusalem] is very important for Christians. As the term chair of the OIC, I was calling the leaders of many Islamic countries. I’ve also had contact with the leaders from the Christian world.
Especially, I’ve called His Holiness the Pope and I’ve shared my thoughts and opinions with him vis-à-vis AlQuds. And praise to Allah, he is thinking alike. I’ve spoken to the German Chancellor, and similarly President Macron of France; I’ve talked to him. And I’ve also talked to President Putin of Russia. These are the issues that I’ve discussed with all of these leaders around the world so as not to confine this matter within the boundaries of the Islamic world, because this is not an outstanding problem for the Muslim world. This is an outstanding issue for all of us.
I think President Trump is going to review the situation that he is in. He needs to take the following step forward in my point of view. If we are defending peace, we have to say yes to two-state solution in Palestine. But if we’re not and if we want the Middle East to get pushed into a further conflict and turmoil, then the price will be upon President Trump and Israel.
So you expect Trump to come back on his decision. And if he doesn’t, what’s the next course of action?
He does or he does not. The step to be taken forward after this moment is all about the 128 countries siding with Palestine and all of the countries which had reservations. We should get together and take up an initiative.
Palestine should be recognized as an independent and sovereign state by all of these nations that voted in favour of the resolution at the UN. And after that is accomplished, the U.S., willingly or non-willingly, will have to interpret this situation accurately. I don’t think they will be very insistent on repeating their mistakes. And at the end of the day, they will come back to the truth. Taking Israel by your side and walking ahead like that will not be very fitting for the United States.
What’s your view on how Turkey can work with the African nations to tackle critical issue of peace and security in the continent?
We have been fighting terrorism for the last 35 to 40 years. We have paid a hefty price. And we no longer wish to pay any price whatsoever whilst fighting terrorism. That’s why fighting terrorism has become our number-one priority for us, and we’ve intensified our efforts cultivating great accomplishments.
We are ready and committed to cooperate with all of our friends across the African continent. And the numberone priority for us is solidarity with our African brothers and sisters in all of these areas I have listed previously.
Many Africans send their
children to the schools of the Fethullah Gülen network, which your administration calls a terrorist organization. What is your take on the schools?
Education is just a great disguise for these people working for the network. Even religion is a great form of disguise for the Fethullahists. In the Quran’s verse, AlMa’un, Allah condemns those who are using prayers as a disguise as they will never be conscientious about the practice of prostration and prayer. That’s why we will remain alert. We will never be manipulated.
We are warning our brothers and sisters in Africa not to be manipulated and not to be deceived, because the Fethullahists earned great sums of money out of their actions.
We have established the Maarif Education Foundation. My brothers and sisters in Africa do not be manipulated. Do not be played, as the Turkish Maarif Foundation will provide children with better education and you will not be deceived.
Recently, slave trade markets were discovered in Libya. What would you tell the African youths about migration and the risks associated with it?
When it comes to slavery, we will never allow the refugees to be traded off as slaves because that can never be approved in the eyes of our religion. I would like to call out to the Libyan administration and the Libyan youth, please do not be played, do not be fooled. Slave markets are prohibited internally by our religion. Do not resort to them. Do not fall for them. And please do everything you can to save those who have fallen to slave market.
As the Libyan administrators, as the government officials: expeditiously leave all your differences behind and embark upon a democratic process once and for all so that the will of the Libyan people can be exercised. Through that, general elections can take place and a new administration can emerge. Libyan people will be loyal to a freely and democratically elected government in order to run for a better future.
What can Africa learn from Turkey in terms of women’s involvement in economic and human development?
Women need to become much more active in the political lives of these countries. Women cannot and should not be left outside the political realms. Secondly, women should be more involved in education, in training, in health. And above all, women should be more involved in the business life. Nobody should forget that women deserve a place in the business life. And even further than that, in the NGOs, women should have all the representative powers, which I think is very crucial.
Turkey is looked at in terms of universal healthcare, as an example. What experience can you share with African nations to develop healthcare systems that are accessible to all?
It all depends on education. Fifteen years ago, for example, the numbers of the medical schools [in Turkey] were quite limited. But after we took over the office, we have increased the number of the medical schools immediately. And secondly, we have increased and encouraged the numbers of the private hospitals. We now have the private hospitals and the foundation hospitals along with the state hospitals, the public hospitals, if you will.
We will share our experiences and our know-how with all our brothers and sisters around the African continent. For example, we have undertaken several initiatives in Somalia; there is one hospital in Somalia right now built by us. And we will be more than ready to share.
Some parliamentarians in Somalia are calling for impeachment of the sitting President. What is your message to the Somalia leadership today in this situation?
The unity and fraternity of Somalia is very important for us. And if the Parliamentarians appeal is about harming the unity and solidarity of the Somalis, I would be very sad.
I don’t know the details about this impeachment appeal, but I hope it is not about harming the fraternity of the people in Somalia. I expect the people in Somalia to protect their unity and fraternity once and for all.
How would you react to reports that there is lack of press freedom and freedom of expression in Turkey?
The reports produced by the western countries about the freedom of expression and freedom of the press are not impartial.
We should know that a media person does not enjoy indefinite freedom. There is a limit to our freedoms. The limit is where the freedom of the others shall begin. And media persons cannot support terrorism. If they are harbouring terrorists, then there will be a price to be paid. Those who have been sentenced or detained or who have fled Turkey - the so-called media people - have committed crimes. Not crimes of expressions, not the crimes of free thought.