The 10th Scholars Gathering, hosted by the Union of Scholars and Madrasas (ITTIHADUL ULEMA), opened on Saturday, October 11, 2025, at the Saladin Ayyub Mosque Conference Hall in Diyarbakır’s central Yenişehir district.

Under the theme “Ideological Initiatives Designed Against Our Islamic Identity,” the two-day event has drawn a diverse assembly of scholars, academics, political figures, and civil society representatives from the Kurdistan Region, Türkiye, and various parts of the Islamic world, including officials from Hamas. The gathering aims to address pressing challenges facing the Muslim Ummah through dialogue, consultation, and collective wisdom.

The conference commenced with a poignant recitation from the Holy Qur’an by Rıfat Ablay Hoca, setting a reflective tone for the proceedings. Opening and welcoming speeches followed, with organizers emphasizing the gathering’s role in fostering unity and devising solutions to contemporary issues.

A keynote address by Zekeriya Yapıcıoğlu, Chairman of HÜDA PAR (Free Cause Party), highlighted the event’s significance at a time when the Islamic world grapples with multifaceted crises.

In his speech, Yapıcıoğlu praised ITTIHADUL ULEMA and its President, Seyda Molla Enver Kılıçarslan, for their decade-long commitment to organizing the Scholars Gathering. “These gatherings are valuable efforts to find solutions to the Ummah’s challenges through consultation and collective wisdom,” he said, expressing hope that the 10th iteration would yield “goodness and blessings” for the Muslim world. He extended gratitude to all contributors, participants, and supporters, invoking divine blessings for their efforts.

Yapıcıoğlu underscored the critical role of scholars in guiding the Ummah through turbulent times. “It is a great source of hope to see scholars from different lands and backgrounds uniting to find remedies for the Ummah’s pains,” he remarked. He described the leadership of regional scholars as a continuation of the legacy of their ancestors, predicting that “the fruits of the seeds sown will, God willing, be seen soon.”

The HÜDA PAR leader addressed the conference theme head-on, warning of a “mental, cultural, and practical assault” on the Islamic world by Western civilization and modernism over the past two centuries. He identified the erosion of the family institution, the corruption of youth, and the undermining of gender roles and procreation as existential threats. “Humanity is on the brink of annihilation—not only through weapons but through social decay,” he cautioned, labeling these trends as a form of “genocide” aimed at eroding Islamic identity and values.

Yapıcıoğlu urged Muslims to remain steadfast on the “path of truth,” asserting that true victory lies in resilience and adherence to faith. “All conscious Muslims and leaders of the Ummah must make this negative trend their concern and work diligently for solutions,” he said, emphasizing the need for collective action to counter these ideological challenges.

Turning to the ongoing crisis in Gaza, Yapıcıoğlu delivered a passionate condemnation of the “genocidal Zionist occupiers” responsible for two years of suffering. He attributed their power not to superior weaponry but to the disunity and worldliness of the Muslim world. “Two billion Muslims have allowed two million Gazans to be abandoned to the mercy of Western rulers who have none,” he said, lamenting the failure to halt the killing of children.

Despite the tragedy, Yapıcıoğlu highlighted Gaza’s resilience as a source of inspiration. “Gaza has been a school, a lesson in jihad, and a light that revealed our weaknesses,” he declared, urging the audience to preserve the lessons of Palestinian resistance, the faith of Gazan women, and the innocence of their children for future generations. He called for renewed commitment to supporting Palestine and addressing the root causes of Muslim disunity.

Yapıcıoğlu drew inspiration from the 838th anniversary of Saladin Ayyub’s liberation of Jerusalem on October 2, 1187, noting similarities between the political and scholarly challenges of that era and today. He cited Saladin’s determination, supported by scholars like Mawlana Khalid al-Baghdadi, as a model for contemporary revival. “When rulers and scholars unite on the right path, revival becomes possible,” he said, expressing optimism that a new awakening could emerge through similar collaboration.

As a modern example, Yapıcıoğlu pointed to Afghanistan’s liberation from U.S. occupation on August 15, 2021, under the leadership of scholars and madrasa students. Recounting a recent meeting with Saniullah Farahmand, the Ambassador of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Ankara, he praised the Afghan people’s resilience against imperialist powers. “Their efforts to rebuild the country continue with determination,” he noted, presenting Afghanistan as proof of the pivotal role scholars can play in guiding societies toward justice and prosperity.

Yapıcıoğlu criticized the imposition of Western models under the guise of modernization, arguing that they are incompatible with Islamic values. “Those who imitate others first lose their identity,” he warned, stressing that adopting foreign paradigms leads to a loss of dignity and strength. He advocated for a return to Islamic roots and the revival of Muslim civilization as the path to salvation. “We now face two paths: either accept global humiliation and play the role assigned by the powers of evil, or return to our essence, solve our problems based on justice, rebuild our brotherhood, and regain our honor,” he declared.

The HÜDA PAR leader also addressed regional challenges, including the Kurdish issue, framing it as a matter of rights and justice. He emphasized the importance of a faith-based brotherhood that has sustained Muslim unity for over a thousand years. “Our political goal is to restore justice in every field with a human-centered approach,” he said, reaffirming HÜDA PAR’s commitment to ending decades of violence and terrorism while promoting reconciliation and unity.

Yapıcıoğlu concluded his speech with a call to action for scholars to engage more deeply in social, economic, and political spheres. “The scholarly class must influence governance to ensure justice and prosperity for Muslim societies,” he said, envisioning a collaborative effort between scholars and rulers to drive a new era of revival.

The 10th Scholars Gathering will continue on Sunday, October 12, 2025, with panel discussions, presentations, and workshops aimed at devising practical solutions to the ideological and practical challenges facing the Muslim world. Participants are expected to explore topics such as the role of education, the preservation of Islamic identity, and strategies for fostering unity across diverse Muslim communities.

As the event progresses, organizers and attendees hope it will serve as a catalyst for renewed commitment to addressing the Ummah’s challenges. Yapıcıoğlu closed his remarks with a prayer: “May Almighty Allah make all our deeds sincere and acceptable to Him, bless our efforts, and grant success to us all. I pray that the 10th Scholars Gathering will yield great blessings for the Ummah and humanity.”

The gathering underscores Diyarbakır’s growing role as a hub for Islamic scholarship and dialogue, reinforcing ITTIHADUL ULEMA’s mission to unite scholars in service of the Muslim world’s spiritual and intellectual revival. (ILKHA)