The Independent Industrialists and Businessmen Association (MÜSİAD) held a Palestine Panel and an Artworks Auction on 29 November, the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. The TRY 15 million collected in donations will be sent directly to the Palestinian people.
MÜSİAD held a Palestine Panel and an Artworks Auction. At the program, opened with speeches by MÜSİAD President Mahmut Asmalı and Board of Directors Member Selim Başdemir, a panel examining the historical and political existence of Palestine was held, together with an Artworks Auction whose proceeds will be donated entirely to the Palestinian people.
The program, which began with a panel session moderated by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ebubekir Ceylan and featuring researcher-writer Muin Naim, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Mercan and Sadakataşı Association President Kemal Özdal as speakers, continued with the auction. A total of 15 million Turkish lira was raised at the auction and will be shared with the Palestinian people through the Sadakataşı Association and the Deniz Feneri Association.
“It Will Be a Means for the Revival of Muslims”
In his speech at the program, MÜSİAD President Mahmut Asmalı said: “This is by no means an event that Muslims will forget. It is perhaps a very great turning point that will now become a means for the revival of Muslims around the world.”
Asmalı continued his remarks as follows:
“Shortly, our esteemed speakers will discuss the historical process of the events in Palestine, their economic dimensions, the relief efforts and what our businessmen's association should do. After 7 October, the Palestinian cause has reached a scale where it is no longer a cause confined to the Gaza Strip and the Palestinian territories, but one entrusted to the consciences of people all over the world and capable of becoming a means for a fresh liberation. We have 15,000 martyrs in Palestine. But I believe that, through the blood of those martyrs, hundreds of thousands, two hundred thousands, perhaps millions will cling firmly to the religion of God and read the Holy Qur'an more, and a great flood of guidance will come wave after wave.
“They think: let us kill all the Moseses, all the children born in Gaza, so that no more Moseses are born. That is why they are killing the children in Gaza. But we believe that the Moseses in Gaza were born long ago. As those very young children are being arrested in Gaza, those children, smiling and making the victory sign, will also be the reason for the birth of thousands of Moseses. From the very beginning of the war, we as MÜSİAD have made our position clear. As the wise leader Aliya İzzetbegoviç said: “In the end, the only thing we will remember is not the words of our enemies but the silence of our friends.” We will never in any way remain silent in the face of this oppression. Today, as MÜSİAD, we have moved from the point of resenting it in our hearts to the point of acting with our hands.
“I believe we will collect a substantial donation at the auction to be held shortly. But we will not be content with this. This is by no means an event that Muslims will forget; it is perhaps a very great turning point that will become a means for the revival of Muslims around the world.”
“We Must Certainly Act as One and Together”
President Asmalı stated that Israel's activities stem from its acting together and forming joint capital, and said, “We always emphasize being one and together. Look at what a handful of Jews do to the world economy when they act as one and together.” Stating that MÜSİAD's action plans would continue and that, within the scope of expanding the boycott, the best boycott comes through producing and building brands, Asmalı continued his remarks as follows:
“We will carry the barbarity of murderous Israel in our hearts like a burning ember for centuries. The work and actions we undertake will not and must not be like a straw fire, where we react today and everything is forgotten tomorrow. Our boycott will also continue for many years, until a just and lasting State of Palestine is established there. We will not interrupt these actions of ours. As the MÜSİAD family we are a businessmen's association and we must be economically strong. We always emphasize being one and together. Look at what a handful of Jews do to the world economy when they act as one and together.
“All the states of the world went to Tel Aviv and pledged allegiance, they kissed hands; this economic power has taken them captive. This power has taken everyone so captive that everyone in the world is a captive; in fact, only the people of Gaza turned out to be a people living their freedom. Therefore we must certainly be economically strong, we must act as one and together, and we must all carry this cause in our hearts.
“I believe that today, as the MÜSİAD community, we have moved to a new action plan. God willing, our actions and our aid regarding Gaza will continue. Indeed, tomorrow a workshop on Domestic Software and Cyber Security will be held in this hall within the scope of the boycott. Therefore we must work on a system that will minimize and even eliminate Israel's presence in every field. I believe this is a duty for all of us.”
“We Have Gathered for Benefit and Good”
For his part, MÜSİAD Board of Directors Member Selim Başdemir, emphasizing in his speech that they had gathered to help the Palestinian people and for a good cause, said, “Tonight we will experience an evening in which we reinforce this feeling of solidarity.” Stating that the hearts of all Muslims around the world have been bleeding since 7 October, Başdemir said:
“Today is 29 November, a meaningful day for Palestine. Today is the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. We are happy to hold this program on such a meaningful day. Tonight we will experience an evening in which we reinforce this feeling of solidarity.
“What has brought us together here today is the feeling, within the scenes we have watched on televisions and telephones since 7 October, of “Could I have been that father?”, or the questions “What if I were in the place of that believing brother of mine, what if that child I saw were mine?” It is this state that brought us here today. This situation is a kind of helplessness; a tremendous silence and a pain so hard to bear. While we feel these thoughts so deeply, the people we watch are the ones actually living in that state. Those faithful Muslims are such important examples for us, and in our own condition we are so far from them.
“Today we have actually come together to see whether we can be a drop of benefit to that fire, in order to draw closer to them. God willing, we are here to contribute to these brothers and sisters of ours. MÜSİAD is in fact a very precious organization that revives an almost forgotten sunnah such as Qard al-Hasan. And today too it will not remain silent in the face of this oppression.”
The Historical, Political and Economic Process Was Discussed
At the panel on Palestine held within the MÜSİAD Palestine Panel and Artworks Auction program, researcher-writer Muin Naim, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Mercan and Sadakataşı Association President Kemal Özdal delivered their speeches under the moderation of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ebubekir Ceylan. The necessity of the Al-Aqsa Flood operation, the historical existence of Palestine and the occupation carried out by Israel over the years were discussed. Sadakataşı Association President Kemal Özdal presented images and reports of the relief activities the association has carried out in Palestine, primarily in the Gaza Strip.
TRY 15 Million Was Raised
The last two-hour section of the program continued with the Artworks Auction hosted by celebrated chef Ömür Akkor and calligrapher Mustafa Cemil Efe. At the auction, in which everyone wishing to take part, primarily MÜSİAD members, participated via the Bidsee application, 15 million Turkish lira was raised by the end of the night. President Mahmut Asmalı said that the money collected would be transferred entirely to the people in Palestine.
Within the scope of the Artworks Auction, calligraphy, marbling, miniature and carving works and antiques belonging to Yusuf İyilik and to various artists were put up for sale at the auction. At the same time, a Turkish flag figure worked on sheepskin, also belonging to MÜSİAD President Mahmut Asmalı, was sold for TRY 1 million.
The auction, at which works by important artists such as Hamit Aytaç, Hasan Çelebi, Davut Bektaş, Mustafa Parıldar, Mustafa Cemil Efe, Ferhat Kurlu and Ali Toylu were sold by open bidding, attracted great interest and appreciation.
