Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan has emerged winner of the 2020 Global Muslim Personality Award, a global award organised by Nigeria’s most authoritative Islamic newspaper, Muslim News Nigeria.
Erdogan was declared the winner of the prestigious award tagged #MNAwards2020 for the third consecutive time, at exactly 9:47am Nigerian time (GMT+1) on Friday, February 26, 2021, by the Publisher of the newspaper, Mr. Rasheed Abubakar.
The maiden edition of the award created in 2018 to celebrate Muslim achievers across professions including governance and administration was won by President Erdogan; as he astonishingly recorded a similar feat in 2019, when the newspaper declared him the winner, for the defence of the rights of oppressed Muslims around the world.
Turkish President @RTErdogan has been named the Global Muslim Personality by a Nigerian Islamic newspaper @muslimnews_NG for the third year in a row. #Erdogan was declared the winner of #MNAwards2020, by the newspaper's publisher, Mr. Rasheed Abubakar in Lagos, Nigeria on Friday. pic.twitter.com/ogqn3E53kK
— Muslim News Nigeria (@muslimnews_NG) February 26, 2021
Mr. Abubakar, in a press statement, said though the year 2020 was very challenging for the world due to the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic which has affected all facets of human endeavour, President Erdogan remained committed to a just cause and his achievements surpassed that of the previous years.
The statement noted that the emergence of President Erdogan as a visionary and pragmatic leader has been a blessing not to Turkey alone but to the extended global Muslim community (Ummah) which has fallen prey to the belligerence of predator nations.
From cultivating and consolidating the national capabilities of the Turkish state and its local economy, President Erdogan embarked on showing the world what it is missing in the absence of Islamic standards in matters of human rights, politics, and fairness, and equity in economic affairs.
“Whether it is inclusion in social matters; or upholding the rights of minorities, whether it is the cultivation of power to promote peace, cooperation and development; or to protect and act as the interlocutor for the weak and oppressed, President Erdogan has demonstrated the Qur’anic verse which envisages the purpose of power thus:
“(They are) those whom if we establish them in the land (with power), establish regular prayer and give regular charity, enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong: and with Allah is the end of all affairs’ Qur’an 22:41.
Turkey under Erdogan has wielded power befitting its status as a power, none of which has been excessive, belligerent or irresponsible.
Some of his achievements are summarised below:
▪︎ The Conversion of Hagia Sophia was one of the greatest tests of his leadership. Against all odds, President Erdogan restored the edifice to its rightful place as a mosque after decades of its wrongful conversion to a museum.
The Muslims who have been battling to survive in the COVID-19 era were all full of joy and excitement. Their joy knew no bounds as the echo of the adhan (Muslim call to prayer) commenced once again from the rooftop of Hagia Sophia.
▪︎ The Liberation of Nagorno-Karabakh: This is a territory belonging originally to Azerbaijan, which Armenia took over by force in 1992/3 through a pogrom. Despite the passing of four separate resolutions by the United Nations Security Council calling on Armenia to withdraw from the territories, Armenia held on with crude force.
▪︎Provision of relief packages to crisis-afflicted countries: Despite practical efforts to curtail the spread of COVID-19 in his country, the Erdogan-led government didn’t forget other countries, who were most hit by the pandemic and developing countries who were battling to survive. By May 2020, Turkey had provided relief materials to Italy, Spain, Britain, Nigeria, and even Israel, who are oppressors of our brethren in Palestine.
The Rohingya in Myanmar, Uyghur in Xinjiang and Palestinians in Gaza, the people of Somalia and other places where Muslims are marginalized are being provided with humanitarian and developmental assistance to navigate out of current challenges.
▪︎Defense of Islam: President Erdogan also sounded notes of warning to those who take delight in blaspheming Prophet Muhammad (SAW), Islam and its symbols, for economic gains. He was fierce in condemning French President, Emmanuel Macron for his insolence against Islam, as well as leading a call for the boycott of French products which was enthusiastically obeyed by the global Muslim Ummah.
▪︎ Unwavering commitment to the Palestinian cause: Even when Palestine was betrayed by those falling head over heels to normalize ties with the pariah apartheid Zionist Israel, Turkey’s commitment to the realisation of the Palestinian State was not in doubt.
▪︎Entertainment: Erdogan’s Turkish magnificent investment in the entertainment industry is bringing good vibes as hundreds of millions of people, Muslims and non-Muslims around the world have learnt and appreciated the rich and re-discovery undistorted history of Islam and the bravery, and unmatched leadership qualities exhibited by early Muslims from Turkish series, most prominently Diriliş Ertugrul, then, Kurusul Osman, and Uyanis: Buyuk Selcuklu, among others.
Having highlighted some of these achievements, the newspaper rejoiced with Turkey and the Muslim world for being blessed with a committed leader such as President Erdoğan, praying to Allah to grant him good health and long life so that he can continue with his just cause, beyond 2023.
Mr. Abubakar also said his organisation is aware of the propaganda orchestrated against President Erdoğan in the media, especially in the Turkish-Israeli relations and China’s maltreatment of Uyghur Muslims.
“Evidently, the plots of the enemies will fail and President Erdogan will not disappoint the oppressed Muslims across the world. However, we believe that this award won again by the Turkish president will spur him to do more for the Muslims in Uyghur region of China especially,” he added.
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