Thousands of people filled Sheikh Said Square in Diyarbakır’s central Sur district late Wednesday to participate in a collective prayer gathering titled “Prayer of Relief for the People of Gaza.”

The event was organised under the leadership of the Prophet’s Lovers Foundation (Peygamber Sevdalılar Vakfı) and was held in response to a recent call for prayers issued by the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of HAMAS.

The call urged Muslims worldwide to turn to Allah in supplication, seeking an end to the relentless oppression, violence, and genocide inflicted upon Palestinians by the Israeli occupation regime. The gathering saw hundreds of faithful Muslims unite after the Isha (night) prayer to beseech divine intervention for their brothers and sisters enduring unimaginable suffering in Gaza.

The event, charged with spiritual fervor and a resolute commitment to the Palestinian cause, began with the melodious call to the Isha prayer resonating through the square, a place steeped in the region’s history of resistance and faith. Theologian Bayram Sönmez, a prominent voice in the community, delivered a stirring address that underscored the sacred duty of Muslims to heed the directives of HAMAS and the Qassam Brigades without hesitation. “Our presence here tonight is not merely a gathering; it is a powerful declaration to the Zionist regime and its leader, Netanyahu, who arrogantly claims these lands as divinely promised to them,” Sönmez proclaimed. “We say to them: These sacred lands will become your grave. The descendants of Said-i Kurdi and Sheikh Said-i Palevi, standing here in Diyarbakır, vow to ensure that you and your oppressive legacy are erased from history.”

Sönmez’s speech was a passionate blend of theological insight and revolutionary zeal, drawing on Islamic history to inspire the crowd. He emphasized the transformative power of prayer, describing it as an “elixir” capable of turning despair into victory, soil into silver, and silver into gold. “Do not belittle your prayers,” he urged, “for they are a weapon that transforms the oppressed into heroes, turns hope into triumph, and brings ruin to oppressors by Allah’s permission.” He called on the faithful to envision their supplications as a divine shield protecting Gaza’s Mujahideen, a barrier safeguarding children trapped under rubble, and a steel dome guarding the skies above Gaza. “Your prayers are bombs exploding in the heart of disbelief,” he declared, igniting the crowd with a sense of purpose and urgency.

Drawing parallels with the Prophet Muhammad’s prayers during moments of desperation, such as his supplication after returning from Ta’if, Sönmez connected the struggles of Gaza to the trials of early Muslims. He invoked the legacy of Sheikh Ahmed Yasin, the revered founder of HAMAS, who similarly turned to Allah in moments of weakness and abandonment. “When the Qassam Brigades call for prayer, they are presenting their complaint to the Lord of the universe,” Sönmez said. “They are saying: If you, the Ummah, do not support us, do not lift our fallen banner, then we will complain of your inaction to Allah. If you abandon us, may Allah abandon you on the Day of Judgment.” This stark warning resonated deeply, reminding the crowd of their responsibility to stand with Gaza in every possible way.

Sönmez further inspired the gathering by invoking the heroic examples of Islamic figures such as Mus‘ab ibn ‘Umayr, Ja‘far ibn Abi Talib, and Khalid ibn Walid, who carried the banner of Islam through trials and martyrdom. “By being here, you are telling the Mujahideen of Gaza: We are ready to take up your banner, to sacrifice our arms, our legs, our heads in this path,” he said. “We declare that, like Khalid ibn Walid, we will carry the flag of the Messenger of Allah until it is planted in Al-Aqsa Mosque, by Allah’s permission.” The crowd responded with fervent amens, their voices rising in unity and resolve.

Addressing the Zionist regime directly, Sönmez condemned their atrocities—martyring children, orphaning families, and destroying homes in Gaza. “You are deluded if you think that by killing Gazans, you will achieve victory,” he said. “We will never surrender Jerusalem, nor will we allow you peace in Gaza. Until not a single part of us remains, we will defend these lands.” Quoting the martyred Chechen commander Shamil Basayev—“If you want to make a Mujahid smile, try to frighten him with death”—Sönmez affirmed the fearlessness of the faithful. “By Allah, we have no fear of death,” he said. “Let my child die, but not Abu Obeida. Let my daughter die, but not the children of Gaza. Every son and daughter of Kurdistan here today is ready to sacrifice their wealth, their lives, their families for this cause. Just give us a sign, an order, a decree, and millions in Türkiye will rise for jihad.”

Sönmez urged the crowd to make Gaza their constant agenda, to keep the plight of Palestinians at the forefront of their minds at all times. “If we cannot fight in Gaza, if we cannot give our wealth or our lives, we must not withhold our prayers,” he said, warning that neglecting this duty would leave the Mujahideen feeling abandoned. He advised the faithful to pray with unwavering conviction, imagining their supplications as a force capable of blocking bombs and shielding Gaza’s defenders. “Pray as if your dua becomes a bomb exploding in the heart of disbelief, a shield for a Mujahid, a barrier for a child under rubble,” he said. “If you believe Allah will answer, He will send tranquility to their hearts and grant them victory.”

The program reached its spiritual crescendo with the congregational Isha prayer, led by Molla Abdulkuddüs Yalçın, Vice President of ITTIHADUL ULEMA. Following the prayer, Yalçın led a moving collective supplication, as the people of Diyarbakır raised their hands to the heavens, their voices trembling with emotion. They prayed for relief, patience, and victory for Gaza, for the unity and strength of the global Muslim Ummah, and for the end of oppression against Muslims worldwide. The supplications carried hopes for solidarity, the cohesion of the Islamic world, and the ultimate liberation of Al-Aqsa Mosque.

The gathering in Diyarbakir is part of a broader trend across Türkiye, where public shows of solidarity with Gaza have intensified during the ongoing conflict. Since the escalation of violence, the cities across Türkiye have hosted protests, charity campaigns, cultural programmes, and prayer vigils. These events often blend humanitarian concern with religious and political undertones, reflecting both spiritual solidarity and strong political opposition to Israeli government policies.

Türkiye has long positioned itself as a vocal supporter of Palestinian rights, and local religious and civil society organisations frequently mobilise around Gaza-related issues. Events like the one in Diyarbakır illustrate the depth of grassroots engagement with the Palestinian cause, particularly in regions with strong religious and cultural ties.

While gatherings of this kind are framed as religious and humanitarian, they also carry political weight. Calls made by HAMAS or its affiliates resonate strongly in Türkiye, especially in religiously conservative communities. Critics, however, caution that overt alignment with militant groups risks blurring the line between humanitarian solidarity and political partisanship.

Authorities did not issue an immediate statement about the Diyarbakır event. However, observers note that Türkiye’s public square has become a prominent space for symbolic gestures related to the Gaza conflict, ranging from peaceful vigils to mass rallies drawing tens of thousands.

For participants, Friday night’s prayers were described as both an act of faith and a source of collective strength. Organisers underlined that while people in Türkiye may not be able to directly influence the situation in Gaza, their prayers and gatherings were meant to send a message of solidarity and encouragement.

“Each gathering, each prayer, is a message to the people of Gaza that they are not forgotten,” an organiser told local reporters after the event. “It is a way to keep hope alive and to strengthen the bond of brotherhood.”

The evening concluded quietly after the prayers, with attendees dispersing peacefully. Many said they intended to continue remembering Gaza in their daily prayers and discussions, echoing the call made during the event to “keep Gaza at the forefront of our hearts and minds.” (ILKHA)