The following excerpts are from a speech given by IHH head Bülent Yildirim at a Hamas rally held in Gaza in February 2009. The rally was in support of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who stormed out of a debate on the Gaza war. The speech appeared on the Internet.
· To view this clip on MEMRI TV, visit http://www.memri.org/legacy/clip/0/0/0/0/0/0/2495.
· To view the MEMRI page for Flotilla, visit http://www.memri.org/subject/en/833.htm.
· To view the MEMRI TV page for Flotilla, visit http://www.memritv.org/subject/en/834.htm.
"Anyone Who Does Not Stand Alongside Palestine – His Throne Will Be Toppled"
Bülent Yildirim: "My brothers, I have brought you the blessings of Saladin and Sultan Abd Al-Hamid. There are 70 million Sultan Abd Al-Hamids in Turkey, and they all support you. We congratulate you on your victory.
"Three to four years ago, some claimed that Hamas was a terrorist organization. When the Jews would kill our women and children, they would say: 'Muhammad died and left only daughters.' We are here, in Turkey, in Egypt, Syria, and everywhere, and our daughters and our boys can also defeat you."
Arabic Translator: "We are here, in Egypt, in Sudan, in Syria, in Turkey, and everywhere. Our women, our children, and our men support you."
Bülent Yildirim: "Allah Akbar. Allah be praised. Allah Akbar. Allah be praised. Allah Akbar. Allah be praised. They have bombs, nuclear weapons, chemical weapons, but we have our hearts, we have our courage, and we are not afraid of anyone but Allah."
Arabic Translator: "They have used their nuclear and chemical weapons, and all their weapons, but all we have, after Allah, are our courageous hearts and our men."
Bülent Yildirim: "Let me tell you that if it were not for the ceasefire, Istanbul, Ankara, Diyarbakir, and all of Turkey would be in Gaza."
Arabic Translator: "If not for the cease-fire, Istanbul, Ankara, Diyarbakir, and all of Turkey would go into action and join you. Proud Hamas salutes Turkey. Proud Gaza salutes Turkey."
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Bülent Yildirim: "Oh people of Paradise, let me tell you: You are not alone, we love you a lot."
Arabic Translator: "Oh people of Paradise, you are not alone in the fray. We love you, and we are at your side all the time."
Bülent Yildirim: "Our beloved brothers, all of Turkey supports you. The day has come to remove the embargo, Allah willing."
Arabic Translator: "Our beloved brothers, all of Turkey supports you. The day has come to remove the siege, Allah willing."
Bülent Yildirim: "From here, I call upon all the leaders of the Islamic world, and upon all the peoples… Anyone who does not stand alongside Palestine – his throne will be toppled."
Arabic Translator: "Anyone who does not stand alongside Palestine will be defeated."
"Everything is Progressing Towards Islam"
Bülent Yildirim: "Last night, everything in the world has changed, and everything is progressing towards Islam."
Arabic Translator: "Everything in the world has changed, and everything is progressing towards Islam."
Bülent Yildirim: "All the peoples of the Islamic world would want a leader like Recep Tayyip Erdoğan."
Arabic Translator: "All the peoples of the Islamic world demand their leaders to be like Recep Tayyip Erdoğan."
Bülent Yildirim: "In conclusion, let me tell you, oh my Palestinian brothers, who are guarded by Allah and the angels – I wish we could take you away from here to Istanbul, and bring Istanbul here to be hit by the bombs instead of you."
Arabic Translator: "I wish we could take you away from here to Istanbul, and come here to be hit by the bombs and explosives instead of you."
"Raise Your Fists to the Skies and Repeat After Me: What Can The Enemy Do To Me?... If They Kill Me – That Is Martyrdom for the Sake of Allah"
Bülent Yildirim: "The entire Turkish people, all the Muslims in the world, and all of humanity say…"
Arabic Translator: "The entire Turkish people, all the Muslims in the world, and all the human beings in the world, say…"
Bülent Yildirim: "Raise your fists to the skies and repeat after me: What can the enemy do to me? I carry Paradise in my heart. If they deport me – it would be a trip. If they imprison me – I will be able to spend some time alone. If they kill me – that is martyrdom for the sake of Allah. Allah Akbar.
"All the Muslims in the World Will March to Gaza"
"The entire world must know that if they do not lift the embargo from Gaza, all the Muslims in the world will march to Gaza."
Arabic Translator: "The entire world must know that if they do not lift the siege from Gaza, all the Muslims in the world will strive to enter Gaza, Allah willing."
