Looks Nice, but Empty Inside!

News:

President Erdoğan, in remarks following the cabinet meeting, also touched on Türkiye’s foreign-policy approach, saying: “Türkiye has given the world a lesson in human rights through its peace- and justice-focused efforts in regions soaked with blood and tears—Gaza, Syria, Somalia, and Libya.” He emphasized that the nation is united with an unshakable bond, without distinction between Turk, Kurd, Arab, Alevi, or Circassian. (Agencies, 15.12.2025)

Comment:

It is said that when scholars saw people whose behavior did not live up to the meaning of their names—who acted otherwise—they would advise them either to change their name or to change their morals. Perhaps today, this is a saying that most needs to be addressed to those who govern us. Because for a century, the Ummah has been deceived by its rulers and has unfortunately been betrayed. The understanding of directing the public with emotion-soothing words by rulers who see politics as the art of staying in power has now become normalized. The disconnect between their words and deeds has become ordinary. As a reflection of this mindset, rulers—who miss no opportunity—fill the public’s subconscious with the messages they want to convey. President Erdoğan’s latest speech is in this vein as well: “Türkiye has given the world a lesson in human rights through its peace- and justice-focused efforts in regions soaked with blood and tears—Gaza, Syria, Somalia, and Libya.”

Words like peace, justice, fairness, human rights, and “giving a lesson” may sound full and pleasing to the ear, but everyone knows the extent to which they are put into practice in foreign policy. Look: for two years, the most barbaric massacre and genocide in human history has been carried out in Gaza, and it is still ongoing. Countries that, under the name of “peace,” wear the mask of “guarantor” remain silent and unresponsive despite violations and massacres. Although only a small portion of the aid that should enter Gaza reaches it, those who govern us stay calm as if nothing is happening—yet they speak of peace and fairness! As long as you continue relations and recognize the Jewish Entity and approach these massacres and the systematic cruelty of starvation not with armies but with the idol of realpolitik, you deceive yourselves. While in the countries you listed not only tears are shed but blood is flowing in rivers into the soil, you are being a part in the new political redesign in these regions together with the strategic partner, the United States—of course, a redesign made on the axis of U.S. interests, in return for the so-called “legitimacy” granted to you...

But the U.S.—which provides the Jewish Entity with the greatest support in weapons, money, intelligence, media, and politics—supports the occupation of Gaza and Palestinian lands. While they commit these actions, and you maintain political, military, and economic relations with them, what kind of “lesson in humanity” are you giving?

While the Jewish Entity does not even adhere to the so-called ceasefire agreement, kills dozens of Muslims every day, turns the West Bank into an open-air prison, and expands the occupation day by day—by staying silent in the face of these crimes—how could you possibly be contributing to stopping anyone’s tears?

In Syria, right on our border, under U.S. plans designed from thousands of kilometers away to reshape the region, you have taken on the task of “disciplining” a system and governing cadre—first and foremost the Syrian administration—to be integrated into the West. How could you have established any justice in such a situation?

By being within organizations like NATO and the UN that do all this and more, and by acting merely as a satellite in line with the politics of the U.S., how is any “lesson” being given to the world? We truly wonder. These ornate words may be like a house that looks beautiful from the outside and is pleasing—yet because no deeds are put forward, its inside is ruined and empty.

Our prayer to our Lord is that He grants us caliphs whose deeds are stronger than their words; who take as their basis not the boundaries drawn by disbelievers but the boundaries drawn by Allah (swt); and who prioritize not realpolitik but the interests of the Ummah.

Written for the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir by
Ahmet SAPA