The 10th Scholars Meeting, organized by the Union of Scholars and Madrasas (ITTIHADUL ULEMA), continues in Diyarbakır with the participation of scholars and academics from different regions of the Islamic world, especially from the Kurdistan Region.

This year’s gathering—held under the main theme “Ideological Initiatives Design Against Our Islamic Identity”—is being hosted at the Saladin Ayyub Mosque Conference Hall in Diyarbakır’s Yenişehir district.

The multi-day event brings together prominent Islamic thinkers, imams, researchers, and social scientists to discuss the cultural, moral, and intellectual challenges facing the Muslim Ummah today. Topics such as family values, gender ideology, youth and digital life, and ideological threats targeting Islamic identity form the core of this year’s sessions.

A key highlight of the second day of the meeting was the address delivered by HAMAS official Sami Abu Zuhri, who spoke powerfully about Gaza’s steadfastness, the faith-driven nature of Palestinian resistance, and the moral legacy left by great Islamic leaders such as Sheikh Ahmed Yassin.

Recounting his early years in the Islamic movement, Abu Zuhri described how his life was shaped by the atmosphere of struggle and sacrifice that characterized Gaza’s Islamic awakening.

He said he joined the movement as a teenager, inspired by figures such as Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, and emphasized that the Palestinian resistance was born from the Qur’an and the mosques, not from political ambition.

“It was personalities like Sheikh Ahmed Yassin who gave rise to this movement,” he said. “This movement was born in the houses of God, among the people of the Qur’an. That is why the determination of this people cannot be broken.”

Abu Zuhri recalled his youth: “I joined HAMAS in 1984 when I was only 17 years old—a second-year high school student. Later, I was arrested and imprisoned in 1998 while serving as HAMAS’s official in the Rafah region. I prayed to be imprisoned for the sake of Allah. If I had not seen the lives of these great personalities, I would not have prayed for such a thing.”

He went on to describe prison not as a place of suffering but as a “school of faith,” where the resolve of the resistance was nurtured and strengthened.

“The best period of my life was the time I spent in prison,” he said. “HAMAS leaders turned prison into a paradise. Despite the hardship and pain, being among those men filled my heart with peace. We were living with martyrs—Dr. Ibrahim al-Maqadme, Salah Shehadeh, Sheikh Yassin, Marwan Isa. Many of them have since been martyred. They were not like ordinary men. The resistance that astonishes the world today is the product of such personalities, with God’s help and grace.”

In his address, Abu Zuhri stressed that the leadership of HAMAS does not stand apart from the people—it suffers with them, lives among them, and shares in their struggles.

“Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, though paralyzed, devoted every day to the pains of this Ummah. He led the movement, met with people, visited homes, attended funerals. The same can be said for today’s leaders. They are not distant rulers but servants of their people.”

He offered a vivid picture of how leaders like Ismail Haniyeh continue to visit ordinary citizens across Gaza, attending weddings, funerals, and community events despite the devastation.

“Every afternoon, Haniyeh drives through Gaza’s streets. He meets the people, consoles the bereaved, rejoices with the newlyweds. I am not exaggerating when I say he attended nearly one in five social events held across Gaza. This is why the people’s love for their leaders is unwavering,” Abu Zuhri said.

He pointed to the flourishing of religious education in Gaza, where, despite the war and siege, thousands of children memorize the Qur’an every year: “Even under bombardment and hunger, our youth memorize the Book of Allah. This steadfastness is nothing short of a miracle.”

Abu Zuhri described the current ceasefire and political developments as part of a divine plan. He noted that the recent agreement—centered on halting hostilities, releasing prisoners, and ensuring humanitarian aid—marks a temporary step in a longer journey toward liberation.

“Yes, people worry that Israel might betray this agreement,” he said. “But we act with full confidence in Allah. He is the best of planners. The sacrifices made in Gaza are a herald of freedom, not the end of the journey.”

He called on the broader Muslim Ummah to see Gaza’s struggle as a turning point in global consciousness.

“The world is changing, and Gaza is leading this change,” Abu Zuhri declared. “Millions in Western countries are now protesting, sailing in solidarity flotillas, and rejecting the Zionist narrative. Even European governments are beginning to restrict the entry of Israeli officials. None of this was imaginable before. Gaza is the spark that is changing the world.”

Concluding his speech, Abu Zuhri reflected on the meaning of sacrifice and the moral weight of the Palestinian cause.

“The sacrifices we have paid are not small. More will come, but they are sacrifices worthy of the path we follow. God deserves these sacrifices,” he said.

He emphasized that the ceasefire should not be seen as an end to struggle but as a chance for Gaza’s people to recover briefly and for the Ummah to renew its efforts for the liberation of Jerusalem and all of Palestine.

“The people of Gaza have fulfilled the first phase of their duty. Now it is time for the Ummah to act. The war may pause, but the mission continues. We must all pray for Gaza and work for its victory — for the freedom of Palestine, for the liberation of Al-Quds.”

The Scholars Meeting, now in its tenth year, serves as a forum for Islamic scholars to address the challenges confronting the Muslim world. Hosted annually by ITTIHADUL ULEMA, the event seeks to build intellectual unity and practical collaboration among scholars, educators, and activists.

This year’s meeting focuses on ideological challenges targeting Islamic societies, with sessions discussing gender ideology, the family’s role in preserving faith and culture, the dangers of moral corruption through digital media, and the need for collective resistance against cultural colonialism.

Following the conclusion of the presentations, the meeting is expected to release a final statement outlining its resolutions and calls to action for the wider Islamic community. (ILKHA)