Yılmaz spoke at the 1st Muslim Diaspora Forum of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Member States, held in a hotel in Ankara.
Stating that the migration was a great experience that started with the pain of separation and turned into a new life with brotherhood and solidarity, and that the strong bond established between the immigrants and the Ansar after the migration of the Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina showed everyone how the distances between people of common faith and responsibility can be overcome, Yılmaz said that this deep-rooted heritage imposes a moral responsibility on them to protect people living far from their homeland, to enable them to live their identities safely and to support the value they add to their society.
Yılmaz underlined that the issues of Muslim diasporas today should be approached with the same understanding of brotherhood and responsibility.
Emphasizing that the theme of the forum, "From Roots to New Paths", shows the effort to transform this understanding inherited from the past into new bonds, joint work and permanent solidarity in today's conditions, Yılmaz stated that the greatest power that will open the new paths pointed out by this theme is the large and young human resources.
Pointing out that the Organization of Islamic Cooperation has 57 member countries, Yılmaz stated that there was a population exceeding 2 billion in the world as of last year.
"The fact that more than half of this population is under the age of 25 shows that we have a large dynamic human capital asset in front of us," said Yılmaz, adding that societies that prepare this young population well for the future will gain a great advantage.
Explaining that more than 60 million people from member countries have formed a strong diaspora network in different continents of the world, Yılmaz noted that when we look at the 2024 data alone, we see that for 38 countries, this diaspora has transferred nearly 200 billion dollars of resources to the countries they come from.
Underlining that what is much more valuable than the resources sent by this diaspora is the ties established between countries by people raised in the diaspora, Yılmaz said, "The entrepreneurial ability, professional knowledge and international connections of the diasporas transform this economic bond into a wider development opportunity. Those who migrate are always dynamic, lively, innovative and entrepreneurial. We need to spread this energy to the entire Islamic world." he said.
"We will continue to loudly shout the truth"
"I would like to express that the Gaza issue and the drama it created is a very important area for our solidarity," said Yılmaz, reminding that the Netanyahu administration was tried for the crime of genocide before international courts.
Cevdet Yılmaz stated that scientific, technological and economic advances do not prevent the commission of unique atrocities, and that unless these advances are brought together with law, morality, compassion and human values, they can lead to greater atrocities.
Stating that the failure to implement United Nations resolutions in the face of this unprecedented cruelty, the ineffectiveness of international law and the protection of the perpetrators in a sense, shows that the capacity of the current global order to produce justice is extremely weak, Yılmaz reminded that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's call "The world is bigger than five" rose on this very basis.
Noting that a dangerous mentality such as "If I am strong, I can do whatever I want" has developed, Yılmaz said, as the Republic of Turkey, "We are not in a period where we can trust anyone's mercy. We are in a period when geopolitical competition is deepening. We will be both strong and right. Despite all that has happened, we will continue to work for a more just world without losing hope for humanity." He explained what he said.
Vice President Yılmaz said, "Under the leadership of our President, Turkey will continue to stand by the right, truth and the oppressed no matter what the cost, to provide humanitarian support to the people of Gaza and to defend the Palestinian cause on international platforms. The thing that the oppressors fear most is the light of the truth. At this point, we will continue to loudly shout the truth." he said.
- "We must turn solidarity with the Palestinian people into a more effective, more visible and result-producing struggle."
Stating that Muslim diasporas have a great power in the countries where they live, which can convey the voice of Gaza to the public and decision-makers and create an effective social response against discourses that distort the truth, Yılmaz said, "The framework that we can call 'Alliance of the Virtuous' or 'Alliance of Humanity' is very important here." made his assessment.
Underlining that it is necessary to fight against this oppression in solidarity with all people, institutions and structures who are aware that what is happening in Gaza is a crime against humanity, Yılmaz said, "By mobilizing this power with a common discourse and constant coordination, we must transform solidarity with the Palestinian people into a more effective, more visible and result-producing struggle." shared his opinion.
"Freedom of expression is not the freedom to insult sacred things"
Stating that Islamophobia is also an issue that needs to be addressed, Yılmaz said, "Attacks against our mosques and the Holy Quran, hate speech and discriminatory practices targeting Muslim identity show that anti-Islamism has gone beyond individual prejudices and turned into a structural threat that affects politics, media and public life." He said his words.
Yılmaz pointed out that those who carried out these attacks were presented in the media as "having made an individual mistake", but pointed out that behind them was a political discourse and a media environment that supported these actions. Yılmaz stated that the actions that arise with all these should be evaluated and a stance should be taken against them.
"We do not see as legitimate any approach that turns freedom of expression into a shield for attacking the sacred places of Muslims and selectively applies the principles of democracy and equal citizenship," said Yılmaz, adding, "Of course, we are in favor of freedom of expression, but freedom of expression is not the freedom of hate speech. Freedom of expression is not the freedom to insult sacred things. We all see together how the limits of freedom of expression are narrowed when it comes to Israel and Gaza. We have to continue our fight against them." he said.
Stating that everyone who defends human rights as a universal value must take the same clear and determined attitude against attacks targeting Muslims' faith, identity and places of worship, Yılmaz explained that Muslims have lived together with Christians, Jews and members of other religions for centuries and that they do not engage in hate speech against anyone because of their religion or belief.
"If there is anyone in the world who puts Jews in a difficult situation, it is Netanyahu himself."
Emphasizing that the Israeli administration is in great cunning, Yılmaz continued his words as follows:
"It is in no way valid for Israel to describe the smallest voice raised to cover up the atrocities committed by its government as 'anti-Semitism'. If there is anyone who puts the Jews in a difficult situation in the world, it is Netanyahu himself. It is the Netanyahu government itself that puts everyone, including the Jews who do not want to be a party to those atrocities, under suspicion and in a difficult situation with the atrocities it commits. The Republic of Turkey, our civilization, has never been anti-Semitic, and it will never be anti-Semitic from now on."
Emphasizing that Muslim diasporas have the ability to carry out this struggle in a self-confident and organized manner within the legal order and democratic opportunities of the countries they live in, Yılmaz said, "Continuous communication to be established between the member countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and diaspora organizations will transform the dispersed reactions against Islamophobia into a common attitude and will provide a stronger basis for the struggle of Muslim societies to seek their rights. Our goal is that Muslims live their identities and beliefs in confidence, fully benefit from equal citizenship rights, and contribute to the future of the societies in which they live." "It is the strengthening of an order to which they contribute safely." he said.
Noting that inviting qualified, entrepreneurial people trained in the diaspora back to their countries and creating environments that will activate their potential for them there is also an issue that needs to be considered, Yılmaz stated that in order to achieve this goal, the institutional accumulation within the OIC and its member countries should be mobilized more effectively in a common direction.
Vice President Yılmaz continued his speech as follows:
"The political coordination power of the OIC General Secretariat, the work carried out by the Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission against rights violations and the wide youth network of the Islamic Cooperation Youth Forum show that we have a strong basis to protect the rights of Muslim diasporas. In addition to producing comparable data on our member countries, SESRIC also provides support to this basis with policy research and capacity building programs. Within the scope of the Global Muslim Diaspora Project carried out with Ankara Social Sciences University, examining 48 countries and conducting field work in 10 countries is important regarding the situation of Muslim communities in different geographies. Azerbaijan's state committee responsible for diaspora, Pakistan's independent ministry structure for citizens living abroad, and the institutions developed by our other member countries are concrete indicators of the importance given to diaspora policies. Instead of continuing these experiences as disconnected studies, we should move them to a permanent cooperation order that provides regular information flow between countries and can act quickly in the face of common problems. While facilitating the access of diaspora communities to education, health, social security and legal support services, our countries' knowledge, capital and international connections. "We must integrate it with development goals. Transferring the professional experience, academic knowledge and technological competence gained in one country to the country of origin, enabling entrepreneurs to access investment opportunities and creating strong ties between business people will further the economic cooperation in our geographies."
Noting that Türkiye supports its citizens abroad in their legal, administrative and social issues with its wide foreign representative network, Yılmaz said, "While our Ministry of National Education and the Presidency of Religious Affairs contribute to the preservation of language, culture and belief ties of new generations, Yunus Emre Institute and the Turkish Maarif Foundation strengthen our relations in the field of education and culture. Our trade consultancies and the World Turkish Business Council within DEIK bring together diaspora entrepreneurs with Türkiye's trade and investment opportunities. Overseas Turks and "Our Presidency of Related Communities makes significant contributions to this process with its programs ranging from education to youth work, from cultural ties to institutional capacity development." gave the information.
Vice President Yılmaz stated that, as Turkey, they are ready to share this experience with the member countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, mutually benefit from successful practices and utilize the power of Muslim diasporas more effectively for the common future.
