Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan delivered a keynote address at the 7th Religious Council in Ankara, emphasizing the enduring strength of Islamic civilization and the importance of safeguarding spiritual values in an increasingly digitalized world.

Erdoğan underscored the resilience of Islamic civilizations, stating: “The West's progress, built on exploitation and violence, may have temporarily overshadowed the divine and humanitarian civilization of the East. Yet, the spirit and essence that built our civilizations remain as fresh as on the first day. One day, Western civilization will collapse with a great rumble, and our essence and spirit will flourish again, Inshallah, even stronger.”

He expressed confidence in the reconstruction of Islamic civilization based on its core values and traditions, asserting that the connection to spiritual roots has always been a source of strength despite centuries of physical, spiritual, and intellectual attacks on Muslims.

Erdoğan highlighted the historical resilience of Islam, referencing the Mongol invasions and the collapse of the Ottoman Empire as instances where the Islamic spirit persevered. However, he warned of a new, insidious global assault on Islamic values, which he said has intensified in recent years.

“Today, there is a very comprehensive and planned attack against our faith, values, and the codes that make us who we are. This attack is not just physical but targets the essence of Islam and its followers,” Erdoğan said.

The President identified digital media as a significant threat to Islamic values, accusing it of eroding religious beliefs and promoting a fabricated global ideology.

“The digital world is not merely a capitalist tool for entertainment. It is destroying all values on a global scale and directly targeting Muslims, especially the Ahl al-Sunnah creed,” Erdoğan stated. He warned that digital platforms are shaping the education and upbringing of children more than traditional family and community structures.

Erdoğan urged religious institutions to address these challenges by reevaluating religious services in a digitalizing world and developing urgent measures to protect Muslims and their values from digital belief systems.

Calling for unity, Erdoğan emphasized the unifying power of Islam across diverse ethnicities and cultures, particularly in the region. “The cement of every nation and race in our geography is Islam—the spirit of brotherhood it brings us. It is our common religion, qibla, beliefs, and ideals that unite Turks, Kurds, and Arabs.”

Erdoğan concluded by stressing the need to preserve the essence and spirit of Islamic values, not only in religious practices but also in combating the ideological and cultural challenges posed by the digital age.

The 7th Religious Council, themed “Religious Services in a Digitalizing World,” aims to address these pressing issues and formulate strategies to protect and strengthen Islamic values in modern society. (ILKHA)