Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Cambridge Mosque, President Erdoğan said: “We have to categorically denounce and stand against every act which targets innocent people. By leaving aside historical prejudices, we have to fight against hate crimes collectively.”
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who is in the United Kingdom for the NATO Leaders Meeting, delivered a speech at the opening ceremony of the Cambridge Mosque.
“CAMBRIDGE MOSQUE IS A FIRST IN EUROPE IN TERMS OF ITS ENVIRONMENTAL SENSITIVITIES”
Stating that as a masterpiece of woodwork and winner of several awards in this respect, the Cambridge Mosque can accommodate 1,300 men and women, President Erdoğan noted: “Just like its supporters, the Cambridge Mosque too, truly reflects cultural richness. The Complex which is built on 5 thousand and 270 square meters incorporates various third space facilities such as an exhibition hall, a conference room, teaching areas and a cafeteria. Along all these peculiarities, the Cambridge Mosque is a first in Europe in terms of its environmental sensitivities.”
President Erdoğan said: “This place of worship, which was constructed with up-to-date technological facilities such as natural air conditioning, solar panels, air source heat pumps, rainwater harvesting, roof lights that decrease the need for lighting and green roof, is also Europe’s first ever eco-mosque.”
“WE ARE PASSING THROUGH VERY PAINFUL AND DIFFICULT TIMES”
“As humanity we are passing through very painful and difficult times,” President Erdoğan stated, adding: “We see that our values which kept humanity together over ages are under threat more than ever before. In Western countries which have for long years been the cradle of democracy, racism, discrimination and Islamophobia are overgrowing like poison ivy. Muslim shops, homes and places of worship are targeted by racist and fascist groups almost on a daily basis. Muslim women are harassed on streets, in markets and at workplaces only for wearing a headscarf. Such actions do not only victimize Muslims but also effect Jews, colored people and other groups who are different in their identities, appearances and religious affiliations.”
President Erdoğan went on to say: “Attacks against mosques and places of worship for other religions have especially reached an incredible degree. Recently, mosques in New Zealand, churches in Sri Lanka and synagogues in the U.S. were targeted by terrorists. In these acts hundreds of innocent men and women who had no intention but to fulfil their religious obligations lost their lives and many others were wounded. All of these take place despite the fact that places of worship have immunity even in times of war. Throughout history, those who took shelter in places of worship have not only not been killed but their lives, property and chastity have always been protected.”
“If places of worship are targeted, bombed, destroyed and the civilian people in them are brutally killed the bells are tolling for humanity,” President Erdoğan continued, noting: “That is why we, as Turkey, always say at every opportunity that terrorism is not only the enemy of our country but it is the common enemy of the whole of humanity. We also emphasize the fallacy of associating a religion, Islam, which means “peace” with terrorism. Any element which glorifies violence and kills innocent people has nothing to do with Islam, with being a Muslim or with our faith. The concept “Islamic terror” is wrong just as Christian terror, Jewish terror or Buddhist terror. In our faith, killing an innocent person is equal to killing the whole of humanity. A Muslim cannot be a terrorist and Islam does not produce terrorism.”
President Erdoğan said: “We have to categorically denounce and stand against every act which targets innocent people. By leaving aside historical prejudices, we have to fight against hate crimes collectively.”