The 10th Scholars’ Meeting organized by the Union of Scholars and Madrasas (ITTIHADUL ULEMA) concluded in Diyarbakır with an impassioned and comprehensive final declaration urging the Muslim Ummah to confront the intellectual, moral, and cultural invasions targeting Islamic societies.

The two-day conference, held at the Saladin Ayyub Mosque Conference Hall in the Yenişehir district of central Diyarbakır, brought together hundreds of scholars, intellectuals, and representatives of Islamic organizations from across the Muslim world — particularly from Iraqi Kurdistan, Syria, Palestine, and Türkiye.

Themed “Ideological Initiatives Designed Against Our Islamic Identity,” the meeting served as one of the most significant annual gatherings of Islamic scholars in the region, uniting diverse currents of thought under a shared concern: the defense of Islamic values and identity in the face of modern ideological and cultural challenges.

A Platform for Global Islamic Dialogue

The conference, held over two days and three sessions, was marked by speeches and discussions reflecting the broad intellectual depth of the contemporary Islamic world.

Among the distinguished speakers were HÜDA PAR Chairman Zekeriya Yapıcıoğlu, HAMAS spokesperson Fawzi Barhoum, HAMAS political bureau member Sami Abu Zuhri, and President of the Union of Palestinian Scholars Dr. Nawwaf Takruri.

Representatives from the Kurdistan Region, Lebanon, Yemen, Jordan, and various provinces of Türkiye also participated, offering perspectives on the current state of the Ummah, the ideological battles facing Muslim youth, and the urgent need for renewed unity under the guidance of Islam.

Yapıcıoğlu, addressing the opening session, emphasized that Muslims must reclaim their intellectual sovereignty and not allow the values of the Qur’an to be reinterpreted or diluted under the pressures of Western ideological currents.

“We must define modernity on our own terms,” he said. “If our faith guides our science, politics, and culture, we will produce a civilization that serves humanity rather than enslaves it.”

HAMAS representative Fawzi Barhoum, joining the conference from Palestine, described the ongoing struggle in Gaza as part of this broader ideological confrontation.

“The resistance in Gaza,” he stated, “is not only a military front — it is an ideological front. It stands against those who wish to erase the Qur’an from our lives and replace our divine values with human arrogance.”

A Declaration Rooted in Faith and Resistance

At the closing session, the 17-point final declaration was presented to the public in Arabic, Kurdish, and Turkish, reflecting the multi-ethnic and inclusive nature of the gathering. The statement, titled “Final Declaration of the 10th Scholars’ Conference on Ideological Attacks Against Islamic Values,” laid out a roadmap for intellectual, moral, and social revival across the Muslim world.

Opening with the verse, “So set your face toward the religion, inclining to truth — the natural way of Allah according to which He created mankind…” (Surat ar-Rum, 30), the declaration reaffirmed the eternal mission of scholars as the inheritors of prophets — tasked not only with teaching and guidance but with protecting the Ummah from moral decay and spiritual deviation.

Standing with Al-Aqsa and the Palestinian Resistance

One of the central themes of the declaration was the sanctity of Al-Aqsa Mosque and Jerusalem, described as “lands blessed in the Qur’an and violated by a cursed occupier.”

The scholars collectively hailed Operation Aqsa Flood as a legitimate act of jihad aimed at ending occupation and restoring dignity to the Muslim Ummah.

“Standing with this resistance,” the declaration emphasized, “is not a political choice but a matter of faith.”

Speakers expressed that Gaza’s perseverance under siege has become a spiritual lesson for the entire Ummah, demonstrating that faith, unity, and sacrifice can overcome even the most powerful forces of oppression.

Reviving the Islamic Identity of the Kurdish People

Several articles in the declaration addressed the cultural and historical role of the Kurdish people, highlighting that after embracing Islam, their spiritual and social identity became inseparable from the faith.

“The moral virtues of loyalty, humility, and love of Islamic knowledge are the inheritance of Islam among the Kurds,” the declaration said, warning that secular and Westernized ideologies are now waging a campaign to detach the Kurdish youth from these noble traits.

The conference reaffirmed that Islamic identity must always take precedence over ethnic, national, or ideological affiliations, reminding that the Qur’an established “Islamic brotherhood” as a divine foundation transcending all boundaries.

Protecting the Muslim Family from Cultural Erosion

The declaration dedicated significant focus to the family, described as the cornerstone of both individual well-being and social stability.

The scholars warned that global ideological movements — often under the guise of liberalism or gender equality — are intentionally attacking the moral structure of the Muslim family, promoting lifestyles condemned in Islam and distorting the natural roles of men and women.

“Adultery and homosexual acts,” the declaration stated, “which were once considered the gravest of sins and taboos, have now been legalized in our lands. This false notion of freedom must be abolished. The sanctity of the family must be restored according to the laws of Allah.”

The statement urged governments and media institutions to ban immoral publications and entertainment content that degrade values and normalize sin. It also called on Muslim societies to develop alternative cultural policies and Islamic media platforms that uphold virtue, modesty, and family cohesion.

Guiding Youth in the Age of Ideological Warfare

The conference placed particular emphasis on the youth, describing them as the spiritual army of the future.

The declaration noted that the traditional methods of religious teaching are insufficient to address modern ideological challenges. Instead, scholars must develop a new language of dialogue and outreach, engaging youth intellectually and emotionally in a world flooded with conflicting messages.

It warned that secularization is not merely a cultural drift but a calculated project designed to weaken the faith of the young and detach them from their religious roots.

“The construction of an irreligious identity,” the statement said, “is the greatest threat of our time. To counter it, madrasas and educational institutions must be revived as centers of faith, wisdom, and moral leadership.”

Parents were also urged to remain vigilant over their children’s education, ensuring that their values are not corrupted by external ideological agendas.

A Unified Vision for Islamic Revival

In its concluding articles, the declaration called for strategic cooperation among scholars, universities, cultural organizations, and educational institutions to strengthen the spiritual resilience of Muslim societies.

The document concluded with a message of hope and determination: “As long as scholars fulfill their responsibilities, and youth remain faithful to their Islamic identity, the Ummah will always have the power to renew itself and protect its future generations.”

Diyarbakır: A Symbolic Gathering Place

Holding the conference in Diyarbakır — a city long regarded as the heart of Islamic scholarship in Anatolia — carried deep symbolism. Known for its mosques, madrasas, and centuries-old tradition of religious learning, Diyarbakır served as a fitting backdrop for a gathering aimed at rekindling the intellectual flame of the Ummah.

Throughout the two days, participants praised the unity, hospitality, and sincerity of the local people, while highlighting the growing role of Türkiye’s southeast as a hub for Islamic thought and renewal.

A Message Beyond Borders

The 10th Scholars’ Meeting was not only an academic conference — it was a moral manifesto addressing the challenges of the 21st century Muslim world.

By emphasizing resistance to secular ideologies, protection of family values, and defense of Palestine and Al-Aqsa, ITTIHADUL ULEMA reaffirmed its mission to build an intellectual front that unites faith, knowledge, and action.

As the final declaration echoed through the halls of Saladin Ayyub Mosque, scholars and attendees expressed a shared conviction — that the Ummah, though tested, will rise again through steadfast belief and collective effort.

“The flame of faith,” one scholar remarked as the meeting concluded, “may flicker under the winds of modernity, but it will never be extinguished. As long as there are hearts devoted to Allah, there will always be revival.” (ILKHA)