After two-year delay due to the coronavirus pandemic, the sixth edition of the International Benevolence Awards have finally taken place on Tuesday. the event hosted at the presidential complex in the capital Ankara was organized by the presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) and its Diyanet Foundation (TDV).
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and other dignitaries were among those present at the ceremony.
Among the recipients of the prizes were Yusuf Islam, a popular British singer formerly known as Cat Stevens, Siraj Wahhaj, a Muslim convert like Cat Stevens, former Turkish model and actress Gamze Özçelik, an 88-year-former craftsman working in mosques and imam.
Crews who provided social helping citizens during restrictions in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic and a group of women organize a sit-in for the return of their children kidnapped by terrorist group PKK also received “vefa” (recognition) awards at the ceremony.
Speaking at the ceremony, Erdoğan said he was delighted to meet with recipients of awards he described as “global sent of kindness.”
Erdoğan praised “Mothers of Diyarbakır” as women are known for say “that’s enough” against “oppressors of my Kurdish brothers.” “A bunch of brave mothers tore down the walls of scared and showed the true face of these kidnappers,” he said.
The president said Turkey would keep its doors open for people in need as a benevolent country. “They come from Ukraine today and we don’t know where the people would run away and come here tomorrow. But this country will always be the refuge for the oppressed,” he said.
Singer-songwriter Yusuf Islam has been awarded for son “Train of Peace” projecttitled after son 1971 song. Currency of the charity work of Yusuf Islam Foundation, Peace Train involves food aid to disadvantaged communities around the world, access water and construction of playgrounds for children in Africa, among other charities. Prize organizers say Islam touched hearts of Muslims and non-Muslims with his “position of true devotee” and his “actions”. Islam was also recognized for his contribution to the Cambridge Mosque, Europe first ecological mosque located in the eponymous English city. Islam who was unable to attend the ceremony personally sent a video message and thanked Erdoğan for Turkey’s actions of benevolence and leadership for Muslims across the world.
Siraj Wahhaj, born Jeffrey Kearse in New York, USA, received the award for transmit Islamic knowledge to people through a mosque (small mosque) he converted from a department store in Brooklyn. Wahhaj, a former member of the nation of Islam, became a Sunni Muslim in the 1970s and founded Masjid at-Taqwa in the 1980s. Since then, he has devoted himself to teaching Islam and fighting drug crimes. in son district, which drew praise from the community and the authorities. “Wahhaj, like son name, spread it light of Islam,” the awards committee said, referring to the significance of son Arabic name, “bright light.”
Gamze Özçelik was rewarded for his charity work around the globe. the former model and actress dedicated her life to charity after volunteering for humanitarian aid mission in Africa. Özçelik was recognized for son work including water well drilling in Cameroon for communities in need and provide aid to orphans in War-torn Syria.
Ali Onder, an 88-year-former craftsman received benevolence award for his years of manufacture of minbers (chairs in a mosque where the imam stands to deliver sermons) for free for mosques across Turkey.
Ahmet Aydemir, an imam working in a mosque in central province of Nevşehir was recognized for his work to like children to frequent his mosque by offering them work with him in plant flowers in the courtyard of the mosque and decorate the place of worship with flowers. Aydemir also built a kitchen next at his mosque, delivering free meals to the needy people on daily.
After two-year delay due to the coronavirus pandemic, the sixth edition of the International Benevolence Awards have finally taken place on Tuesday. the event hosted at the presidential complex in the capital Ankara was organized by the presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) and its Diyanet Foundation (TDV).
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and other dignitaries were among those present at the ceremony.
Among the recipients of the prizes were Yusuf Islam, a popular British singer formerly known as Cat Stevens, Siraj Wahhaj, a Muslim convert like Cat Stevens, former Turkish model and actress Gamze Özçelik, an 88-year-former craftsman working in mosques and imam.
Crews who provided social helping citizens during restrictions in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic and a group of women organize a sit-in for the return of their children kidnapped by terrorist group PKK also received “vefa” (recognition) awards at the ceremony.
Speaking at the ceremony, Erdoğan said he was delighted to meet with recipients of awards he described as “global sent of kindness.”
Erdoğan praised “Mothers of Diyarbakır” as women are known for say “that’s enough” against “oppressors of my Kurdish brothers.” “A bunch of brave mothers tore down the walls of scared and showed the true face of these kidnappers,” he said.
The president said Turkey would keep its doors open for people in need as a benevolent country. “They come from Ukraine today and we don’t know where the people would run away and come here tomorrow. But this country will always be the refuge for the oppressed,” he said.
Singer-songwriter Yusuf Islam has been awarded for son “Train of Peace” projecttitled after son 1971 song. Currency of the charity work of Yusuf Islam Foundation, Peace Train involves food aid to disadvantaged communities around the world, access water and construction of playgrounds for children in Africa, among other charities. Prize organizers say Islam touched hearts of Muslims and non-Muslims with his “position of true devotee” and his “actions”. Islam was also recognized for his contribution to the Cambridge Mosque, Europe first ecological mosque located in the eponymous English city. Islam who was unable to attend the ceremony personally sent a video message and thanked Erdoğan for Turkey’s actions of benevolence and leadership for Muslims across the world.
Siraj Wahhaj, born Jeffrey Kearse in New York, USA, received the award for transmit Islamic knowledge to people through a mosque (small mosque) he converted from a department store in Brooklyn. Wahhaj, a former member of the nation of Islam, became a Sunni Muslim in the 1970s and founded Masjid at-Taqwa in the 1980s. Since then, he has devoted himself to teaching Islam and fighting drug crimes. in son district, which drew praise from the community and the authorities. “Wahhaj, like son name, spread it light of Islam,” the awards committee said, referring to the significance of son Arabic name, “bright light.”
Gamze Özçelik was rewarded for his charity work around the globe. the former model and actress dedicated her life to charity after volunteering for humanitarian aid mission in Africa. Özçelik was recognized for son work including water well drilling in Cameroon for communities in need and provide aid to orphans in War-torn Syria.
Ali Onder, an 88-year-former craftsman received benevolence award for his years of manufacture of minbers (chairs in a mosque where the imam stands to deliver sermons) for free for mosques across Turkey.
Ahmet Aydemir, an imam working in a mosque in central province of Nevşehir was recognized for his work to like children to frequent his mosque by offering them work with him in plant flowers in the courtyard of the mosque and decorate the place of worship with flowers. Aydemir also built a kitchen next at his mosque, delivering free meals to the needy people on daily.