Democratic Islam Conference commemorates religious scholars who stood for truth, freedom in Qamishlo

The Democratic Islam Conference held a commemorative event on Wednesday at the Martyr Dalil Saroukhan Shrine Hall in Qamishlo to honor the memory of religious scholars who stood against oppression and upheld the values of truth and justice. The event was attended by religious scholars, families of martyrs, representatives of local institutions, and a number of social and cultural figures.

Among those commemorated were Renas, Mahmoud Sida, Ahmad al-Timi, Ferhad, Youssef Khalifa, and Mashouq al-Khaznawi.

The event began with holding a minute of silence in tribute to the martyrs, followed by a speech delivered by Sultan Temo, an official from the conference's Intellectual Committee. He spoke about the role of religious scholars who supported the causes of peoples and remained committed to the path of truth and justice, stressing that their resistance demonstrated that peoples have long been victims of the oppression and tyranny exercised by successive authorities throughout history.

Temo said that the religious scholars who sacrificed their lives for their principles embodied the true values of religion, founded on justice, freedom, and the defense of human dignity. He added that their message remains alive and continues to inspire future generations in confronting oppression.

For his part, Hussein Abdulrahman delivered a speech on behalf of the families of martyrs, beginning by commemorating the martyrs of the July 14 Resistance. He said they had served as an important bridge in the struggle that paved the way for the Rojava Revolution. He added that the occasion also serves to honor the memory of religious scholars who sacrificed their lives in defense of truth, the freedom of the people, and the pursuit of justice.

The event also featured a recorded message from Sheikh Murshid Mashouq al-Khaznawi, who said that although 21 years have passed since the martyrdom of Sheikh Mashouq al-Khaznawi, his ideas remain alive among the people, noting that the late sheikh had succeeded in breaking the barrier of fear and defending the values of freedom and dignity, describing the Democratic Islam Conference as a platform that reflects the essence of Islam based on justice and tolerance. He concluded by thanking the conference's organizers.

The program also included a recitation of verses from the Quran by Sheikh Omer Hamidi, followed by a speech from Sheikh Mohammed al-Kharzi, co-chair of the Democratic Islam Conference, in which he commemorated martyred scholars who “made their bodies a path to truth.” He stressed that some authorities had attempted to use religious figures to issue fatwas serving their policies, while the scholars being commemorated today chose to sacrifice their lives in defense of truth and justice and in rejection of oppression.

For her part, Dalal Khalil, one of the founding members of the Democratic Islam Conference, spoke about the importance of consolidating a culture of co-existence, pointing out that diversity and differences form the foundation for building stable societies based on peace and mutual respect.

She stressed that women have played a fundamental role throughout history and in Islamic civilization in establishing the values of justice and co-existence. However, authoritarian regimes marginalized women’s role and excluded them from religious and academic institutions, depriving society of their intellectual and scholarly contributions.

At the conclusion of her speech, she emphasized that building peace is a shared responsibility between women and men, and that confronting extremist thought requires women’s participation in various institutions, particularly religious ones. She called for strengthening women’s presence in decision-making positions in a way that contributes to consolidating the values of justice, peace, and co-existence among all components of society.

ANHA