In this address delivered on behalf of the Harmonide Hudson Association and the Turkish‑German Refugee Network (TGRN), President Bayram Türkoğlu opened with heartfelt greetings to representatives, ladies, gentlemen, youth and children. Echoing the current president’s call – “No pause, keep moving forward” – he reminded us that perseverance is woven into our collective journey. Our cause remains just, our struggle united, and together we continue on the path of truth.
President Türkoğlu then turned to the essence of Islam. He emphasized that the faith does not begin solely with Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him); it traces its origins back to Adam and finds completion in Muhammad. The Qur’an, he noted, never mentions Judaism, Christianity or any other label for the earlier monotheistic peoples. Instead, all those communities received the same divine message of tawḥīd – the oneness of God. Consequently, the teachings of Moses, Jesus and the revelations given to them are fundamentally one: a service to Allah.
From this perspective, “role‑model Islam” means embodying the faith as a lived way of being. It is not merely a set of rules but an example guided by the Prophet’s wisdom. By accepting God as Creator, recognizing every human as His servant, and aligning our daily conduct with divine commandments, we become living reflections of Islam that promise reward in the eternal realm.
Addressing the Turkish diaspora in Europe, President Türkoğlu reminded listeners of a long history of movement – from the gates of Anatolia in 1071 to the sieges of Vienna in the seventeenth century, and finally the labor migration that began in the 1960s. He asserted that this presence is not accidental or solely material; it carries a divine mandate. Our task here is twofold: first, to understand how Europe perceives Islam, and second, to convey its true essence through our own conduct. By living the faith authentically, we become positive reflections of Islam for our neighbours, fostering dialogue, respect and mutual enrichment.
We conclude with a prayer that Allah does not let us falter, and that the spirit of Turkey – rooted in the heart of Islam – will flourish anew. May our united effort continue to bear strength, compassion, and service.
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