The streets of Diyarbakır overflowed with chants for Gaza on Sunday evening as thousands answered the call of the Prophet’s Lovers Foundation (Peygamber Sevdalıları Vakfı) to rally under the slogan: “Break this maddening silence, take to the streets.”

The event became one of the largest pro-Palestinian demonstrations in Türkiye in recent months, reflecting growing anger at the ongoing Israeli genocide and frustration with the inaction of world powers, including many Islamic governments.

The demonstration brought together men, women, and children who waved Palestinian flags, carried Qur’ans, and lifted placards denouncing Israeli crimes. Speeches and statements delivered during the rally carried a single unified message: the ummah can no longer remain silent in the face of Gaza’s destruction.

HÜDA PAR: “We Cannot Remain Silent in the Face of Genocide”

At the heart of the demonstration, HÜDA PAR Deputy Chairman Yahya Oğraş gave a rousing speech that drew repeated cheers from the crowd. He highlighted that the people of Gaza have been enduring the Zionist assault for nearly two years and yet continue to resist with courage.

“The mujahideen of Gaza have taken their stand with the cry: ‘Either martyrdom or victory.’ Their determination should be our guiding light,” Oğraş declared.

He invoked the words of Abu Obeida, the spokesman of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, who recently urged Muslims worldwide to take to the streets. “When Abu Obeida calls, we answer. His voice echoes the cries of an entire oppressed nation. We are here today because silence is complicity.”

Oğraş did not shy away from criticizing Islamic leaders: “Your masks have fallen. You can still reclaim dignity, but only if you stand with Gaza. Do not trade your afterlife for temporary worldly gains. Do not cheer oppression with your silence.”

“This is a Test for Humanity”

Following Oğraş’s address, İsmail Dalkılıç read a powerful press statement on behalf of the Prophet’s Lovers Foundation. His speech framed the Gaza crisis not only as a Palestinian or Islamic issue, but as a universal trial for all of humanity.

“What has been happening in Gaza since October 7, 2023, is not just Gaza’s problem – it is a test for humanity itself. Nations, world institutions, and Islamic countries are all being tested by this genocide,” he said.

He gave harrowing statistics, noting that 65,000 Palestinians have been martyred since the beginning of Israel’s brutal war, while 238 journalists have been killed in what he described as a deliberate attempt to silence witnesses. He added that over 2,000 people have been massacred at aid distribution points targeted by Israeli strikes, and that in just the past month alone, at least 251 civilians – including 110 children – have died of starvation and malnutrition.

“The people of Gaza are being killed twice – once with bombs, and once with starvation, thirst, and disease. This is genocide by starvation, a crime so grave that words alone cannot capture its horror,” Dalkılıç stressed.

“Gaza is Being Erased”

The Prophet’s Lovers Foundation accused Israel of pursuing not merely military objectives, but an existential campaign against Gaza and the wider Palestinian identity.

“Behind the bombs lies the so-called ‘Greater Israel’ project. This is not just war – it is an attempt to erase a people from history, memory, and faith. Gaza is being emptied, its infrastructure destroyed, its demographics uprooted, its children starved. This is an ethnic cleansing designed to redraw the region,” the statement warned.

The rally connected Gaza’s suffering to wider threats across the Middle East: “Do not think the Zionist threat will stop at Gaza. What we watch from afar today will one day knock on our own doors. The Greater Israel project endangers every nation in this region.”

A Call for Islamic Unity and Action

The Prophet’s Lovers Foundation issued a forceful set of demands to address the crisis in Gaza, extending far beyond mere condemnation. They called for the immediate opening of all Gaza crossings to allow unrestricted delivery of humanitarian aid, including food, medicine, and baby formula, alongside a complete lifting of the blockade to halt Israel’s starvation tactics.

The foundation urged a full embargo on Israel’s economy and military, as well as political, logistical, and military support for Hamas and the Palestinian resistance. They demanded the formation of a regional intervention force to protect Gaza and counter Israeli aggression, while promoting sustained boycotts of Israeli products as “the lifelong weapon of the oppressed.”

“We will continue to defend Jerusalem with determination until the Israeli regime is driven into the sea and erased from the map. Greetings to the heroic mujahideen, greetings to the people of Gaza who refuse to bow down,” Dalkılıç concluded.

Diyarbakır as the Voice of the Ummah

The rally transformed Diyarbakır into a symbolic capital of solidarity. For hours, the city’s squares echoed with chants: “Death to Zionism,” “Jerusalem is ours,” and “Gaza will be victorious.”

The demonstration reflected not only sympathy for Palestinians, but also a growing sense of betrayal toward global institutions and Islamic leaders who continue to remain passive. Organizers stressed that Diyarbakır’s voice was the voice of the oppressed everywhere, a cry for dignity and justice in a world numbed by political hypocrisy.

A Broader Wave of Resistance                   

This demonstration was not an isolated act. In recent months, Türkiye has witnessed a surge of pro-Palestinian activism – from mass boycotts of Israeli products to nationwide rallies organized by Islamic NGOs and solidarity platforms. Diyarbakır’s protest, however, stood out for its scale and its uncompromising message: that only concrete action, not words, can stop genocide.

Analysts say such mobilizations reveal a widening gap between Muslim populations who demand action and leaders who remain constrained by political calculations.

Conclusion: “Silence is Complicity”

As the rally drew to a close, the Prophet’s Lovers Foundation issued one final message that captured the spirit of the day: “Silence is complicity. Neutrality in the face of genocide is betrayal. The world may choose silence, but we will not. Gaza’s blood flows through our veins. We will march, we will speak, we will resist – until victory or martyrdom.”

The Diyarbakır protest was more than a demonstration – it was a declaration that the Palestinian cause lives in the hearts of the ummah, and that the cry of Gaza will not be drowned out, no matter how much the oppressors attempt to silence it. (ILKHA)