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February 20, 2011 Special Dispatch No. 3603

Turkish Mavi Marmara Delegation in Iran: 'We Are Here Today With the Longing and the Determination to Build a Middle East Without Israel and America'

February 20, 2011
Turkey | Special Dispatch No. 3603

On February 12, 2011, the radical Islamist Turkish Internet portal Velfecr.com reported that Iranian President Ahmadinejad hosted, in Tehran, a Turkish Mavi Marmara delegation, comprising "Mavi Marmara mujahedeen, ghazis and families of the shahids," which arrived to celebrate the anniversary of the Islamic Revolution. The delegation was led by militant Islamist activist Nureddin Sirin and IHH official Selaheddin.

According to the report, the delegates participated in Iran's February 11 Revolution Day ceremonies, and also "marched chanting anti-Israel, anti-American, pro-Hamas, Hizbullah and Egypt slogans and carrying the photos of the nine militants who died aboard Mavi Marmara in May 2010."

During the delegation's meeting with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Sirin noted: "We are here today with the longing and the determination to build a Middle East without Israel and America, and to refresh our pledge to continue on the path of the Mavi Marmara shahids."

In a February 12 op-ed on the subject, titled "ALLAHUAKBAR! [ "Allah is the greatest!"] Now Is The Time To Eliminate Israel..!" Sirin reiterated "the promising words of the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Dr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, that 'only a short time is left for the building of a Middle East without Israel or America in it' and we are praying for the quick arrival of that bright day, when all of us will meet in a free Al-Quds (Jerusalem)." He also noted that that the delegation's visit to Iran was to "celebrate with unparalleled joy and pride the ousting of the Pharoah Mubarak through the holy intifada of freedom-loving Egyptian people."

The following is the full report from Velfecr.com,[1] including photos, and, following that, Sirin's article, which also appeared on Velfcr.com.[2]

Be sure to visit the MEMRI Turkish Media Blog (http://www.thememriblog.org/turkey) daily for breaking news and updates you will get nowhere else.

Velfecr.com Report: Turkish Delegation of Mavi Marmara/Flotilla Visits Iran; Ahmadinejad: 'The Blood of These Shahids Will Not Be In Vain – And With Their Blood We Will Reach Jerusalem'

Velfecr reported that Iranian President Ahmadinejad hosted, on February 12, the Turkish Mavi Marmara delegation, which is visiting Iran to celebrate the anniversary of the Islamic Revolution.

Speeches were given by militant Islamist activist Nureddin Sirin and IHH official Selaheddin Ozer, who led the delegation.

Echoing the words of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad earlier during the [Revolution Day] celebration ceremonies, Sirin said at the meeting, "We are here today with the longing and the determination to build a Middle East without Israel and America, and to refresh our pledge to continue on the path of the Mavi Marmara shahids. This meeting is a symbol of the unity of the umma, and the brotherhood between Muslims of Iran and Turkey. As the members of the Islamic umma, and as Muslims of Iran and Turkey we will be hand in hand, and all together we will have our Friday prayer in a free al-Quds (Jerusalem)."

Ahmadinejad said, "The blood of these shahids will not be in vain, and with their blood we will reach Jerusalem."

The flotilla delegation of the "Mavi Marmara mujahedeen, ghazis and families of the shahids" was invited to Tehran by the International Islamic Radio-Television Union. They participated in the February 11 ceremonies and marched chanting anti-Israel, anti-American, pro-Hamas, Hizbullah and Egypt slogans and carried the photos of the nine activists who died aboard Mavi Marmara last May, during the violent clash with Israeli soldiers.

The flotilla delegation was later hosted by a representative of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who thanked Turkey's Muslims for their fight for Islam and for the defense of Palestine and Gaza and said, "Mavi Marmara became a source of pride for all Muslims. The shahids and ghazis are the honor of the umma of Islam. Through resistance and martyrdom, they exacted a great blow to the Zionist regime. In the Holy Koran Allah says, 'Among all peoples, the Jews are the most evil enemy of the (Muslim) believers'. This verse also means that those Muslims who become shahids or get wounded while fighting the Jews are considered better-than-the-best of all mujahedeen and shahids. Therefore I salute the Mavi Marmara shahids, for being higher than our own shahids."

Mavi Marmara Delegation Leader Nurettin Sirin: 'ALLAHUAKBAR! Now Is the Time to Eliminate Israel...!'

In an article titled "ALLAHUAKBAR! Now Is The Time To Eliminate Israel..! datelined Tehran, delegation leader and radical Turkish Islamist activist Nureddin Sirin wrote:

"As guests of the International Islamic Radio and Television Union, we are here in Tehran, together with the Mavi Marmara freedom fleet's mujahedeen, ghazis and families of the shahids, to participate in the anniversary ceremonies of the (Iranian) Islamic Revolution, and to celebrate with unparalleled joy and pride, the ousting of the Pharoah [Egyptian president Hosni] Mubarak through the holy intifada of freedom-loving Egyptian people. We are sending (to Turkey) our proud salutations from this land of revolution."

"We are delivering to you the promising words of the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Dr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, that 'only a short time is left for the building of a Middle East without Israel or America in it' and we are praying for the quick arrival of that bright day, when all of us will meet in a free al Quds (Jerusalem).

"We are sending our salutations to the people of Palestine – that feels the utmost joy for the demise of Egypt's pharoah Mubarak – and the defiant Muslim heroes of Gaza..."

"…Salutations to the shimmering dawn of revolution, that is upon the world of Islam! Salutations to the Free Quds [Jerusalem]! Salutations to a Middle East without Israel!

"WAIT FOR US ISRAEL, EVERYWHERE YOU'RE WAITING,

"WAIT FOR US ISRAEL, EVERYWHERE WHERE YOU ARE NOT WAITING..!"

Endnotes:

[1] Velfecr.com, Turkey, February 12 and 15, 2011; http://www.thememriblog.org/turkey/blog_personal/en/34568.htm.

[2] Velfecr.com, Turkey, February 12, 2011; http://www.thememriblog.org/turkey/blog_personal/en/34573.htm.

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