Edirne: Scholars and religious leaders attending the second Balkan Scholars Meeting in Trkiye's northwestern province of Edirne on Sunday emphasized the importance of unity in the Islamic world and called for global efforts to end the ongoing genocide in Gaza.

According to Anadolu Agency, the two-day event brought together religious leaders and scholars from North Macedonia, Kosovo, Albania, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Western Thrace, Bulgaria, Romania, Slovenia, Montenegro, Croatia, and Crimea. At the closing session, the final declaration of the meeting was read out by Nasrullah Hacimuftuoglu, head of the Foundation for Islamic Scholars.

Hacimuftuoglu stated that participants exchanged views on issues such as religious services, cultural activities, family challenges, and the unity of the Muslim ummah, with a focus on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The final statement stressed the need for the Islamic world to take active initiatives to stop what was termed the 'genocide' by Israel in Gaza.

He highlighted the contradiction between the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the actions of Israel, accusing the state of committing genocide in Gaza with the knowledge of the international community. Hacimuftuoglu urged the Islamic world to take concrete steps to end the tragedy and criticized states for their 'double standards' in human rights matters.

Despite ceasefires, he noted, Israel continues its actions in Gaza. Hacimuftuoglu called for strengthening global civil initiatives like the 'Global Sumud Flotilla' and 'Freedom Flotilla for Gaza' as peaceful resistance methods. He also discussed global efforts to undermine moral and family values, describing the family as a moral and religious institution that needs support from both material and spiritual foundations.

Hacimuftuoglu emphasized the role of Islamic scholars and opinion leaders in addressing challenges faced by Muslim communities. He called for more frequent meetings, especially in the Balkans, to prevent provocations and social unrest, urging civil and official institutions to act responsibly.

The second Balkan Scholars Meeting was hosted by the Edirne Governorship in collaboration with the Mimar Sinan Foundation and the Balkan Cities Cooperation Platform.