President Erdoğan reacts to 'secularism declaration': They cannot digest the change

President Erdoğan spoke at the “Labor Table Meeting Iftar Program” at the Beştepe People's Exhibition Hall.

In his statement, Erdoğan said, "They cannot digest the change Turkey is experiencing. They are attacking with ugly expressions. We laugh off the delusions of a group that hides behind the concept of secularism and fires at the nation's values of faith."

Here are the highlights from Erdoğan's remarks:

"I CONGRATULATE YOU ON THE BLESSED RAMADAN"

My very dear brothers and sisters, I greet you with my most heartfelt feelings and I feel great happiness to be with you on this beautiful Ramadan evening, at this bountiful iftar table.

In your person, I send my greetings and love to all our employees and all my worker brothers and sisters who add value to our country with their sweat, labor, and effort in all 81 of our provinces.

I congratulate you on the Blessed Ramadan, whose beginning is mercy, whose middle is forgiveness, and whose end is salvation from eternal torment. I express my gratitude to you, my working brothers and sisters, who are breaking their fast with us. I thank our Ministry of Labor and Social Security, the Honorable Minister, and his team for bringing us together.

"ISRAEL CONTINUES TO ATTACK DESPITE THE CEASEFIRE"

As Muslims, while we experience the enthusiasm of reaching the Blessed Ramadan, the sultan of 11 months, on the one hand, we feel the pain in our hearts for our brothers and sisters in Gaza, Sudan, and many other places who are suffering, being persecuted, and forced to break their fast with a piece of dry bread or a bowl of soup.

Despite the ceasefire achieved on October 10 with our efforts as well, the lawless Israeli government continues to increase its attacks on Gaza and the West Bank. As a result of Israel's attacks, 615 Palestinians have been martyred since October 11. Nearly 2,000 of our Palestinian brothers and sisters have been injured.

There are still serious difficulties in the entry of humanitarian aid supplies. Restrictions, oppression, and Israel's arbitrary behavior at the Rafah border crossing, which is Gaza's lifeline, unfortunately continue. Our Gazan brothers and sisters, who break their fast among the ruins in buildings filled with bullet holes but do not bow down to the oppressor, are once again setting an example for all Muslims.