Turkish delegations arrive in Jerusalem by land via Jordan and stay for several days in Jerusalem (Al Jazeera)

Istanbul -

Every year during the holy month of Ramadan, Turks head with hearts full of faith and longing to the Holy City, heading towards Al-Aqsa Mosque on a journey of faith that fills the soul with serenity and closeness to the Creator, despite the intense Israeli obstacles and measures, taking it as a path of contemplation and getting closer to God, as they describe it.

The Turks’ persistence in visiting Al-Aqsa is due to their adherence to the custom of “sanctifying the Hajj (to Mecca)” in reference to visiting the city of Jerusalem after performing this duty, as visiting Al-Aqsa Mosque was a basic pillar that pilgrims had become accustomed to before going to Mecca or during the return trip since the Ottoman era, as well as They believe that visiting Jerusalem is “equivalent to half of Hajj,” which prompts them to be keen to go during the holy month of Ramadan.

In a step that reflects the spiritual and cultural interest of the Turkish people towards Jerusalem, the Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs decided in 2021 to change the name of the Presidency of Umrah Services to the “Presidency of Umrah and Jerusalem Visiting Services,” thus emphasizing the deep and renewed connection between Umrah and visiting this holy city.

In 2022, about 50,000 Turks visited Al-Aqsa Mosque (Al-Jazeera)

Increasing numbers

The number of Turkish visitors to the city of Jerusalem began to increase, especially after the Ministry of Religious Affairs issued a decision circulated to citizens intending to perform Hajj to sanctify their Hajj in 2015 and set a goal to reach the number of visitors to 100,000 citizens annually, in addition to President Recep Erdogan’s repeated calls since 2017 for his people to intensify their visits. For this city.

According to statistics from religious bodies, more than 15,800 Turks visited Jerusalem in 2016, and the number rose to more than 43,000 two years later, so the numbers will continue to rise after the end of the Corona crisis and reach 50,000 in 2022.

Expectations indicate a significant increase in the number of Turkish visitors to the city of Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque during the current year, as specialists point out that the current year holds great specialness for the Turks in light of the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip that has been ongoing for more than 6 months, in which more than 32 thousand Palestinians were killed and injured. More than 74 thousand others, most of them children and women, which pushes them to “sanctify their jihad” instead of “sanctifying the Hajj.”

The Ministry of Religious Affairs in Turkey set in 2015 a goal of reaching 100,000 citizens annually to Jerusalem (Al Jazeera)

Identity and sanctity

Speaking to Al Jazeera Net, Sahar Karadag (24 years old) - who is preparing to spend the last ten days of Ramadan this year in Al-Aqsa Mosque - tried to describe her feelings, saying, “My first visit to Jerusalem was in my childhood, where I prayed in Al-Aqsa Mosque and wandered around the corners of the Old City. I visited the tomb of the Prophet David, Lake Lot, and the shrine of Moses. There is a feeling that still lives inside me since that trip, cultivating a renewed nostalgia and a constant longing to return to that place.”

Regarding the timing of her visit, she explained that she was planning to visit Al-Aqsa Mosque next year after completing her studies at the College of Divine Studies. However, the current events in the Gaza Strip and the massacres committed by the Israeli occupation against the Palestinians made her rethink the visit as a duty for every able Muslim, rather than just a religious trip.

She added, "I may not have the ability to make a big change in this world, and I may not be able to do much for the people of Gaza, but I see my visit to Al-Aqsa Mosque as a kind of jihad that is considered obligatory on me and on every capable person. Once we are there, we try to preserve the identity of the place." And highlight its sanctity and importance to us.”

Karadag touched on the challenges associated with the visit, noting the obstacles she faced, such as convincing her parents of her intention to go. She said, “It is known the extent of the injustice and oppression practiced by the occupation soldiers against worshipers at Al-Aqsa Mosque, which made it difficult to convince my parents of the idea, but after insistence, I was able to gain their approval.” I believe that the greatest challenges await me within the walls of the mosque and not on my journey there.”

Ankara provides support and facilities to encourage citizens to visit the Holy City in Palestine (Al Jazeera)

Turkish facilities

The Turkish government continues to provide the necessary facilities and support to encourage its citizens to visit the occupied city of Jerusalem, despite the disputes that previously revolved around the legality of the visit in light of the occupation. However, many Turkish sheikhs issued a fatwa permitting the visit, as it comes within the framework of support and support for the Palestinian people.

The Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs opens registration for short trips to Jerusalem repeatedly during the year, in addition to its continued support for tourism companies organizing group trips, such as contracting with Palestinian guides accredited by the Ministry, facilitating obtaining the necessary official permissions, and continuous coordination with the Palestinian side.

Turkish visitors express their dedication and determination to reach Al-Aqsa Mosque through a complex and challenging journey. They begin their journey by traveling to Jordan, enduring the hardships of travel and overcoming the obstacles that stand in their way.

From there, they complete the most difficult part of the journey by land, until they reach their final destination, as they choose this arduous path over dealing with the challenges they may face at Israeli airports, which reflects the depth of their commitment and desire to visit this holy place.

In Al-Aqsa Mosque, Al Jazeera Net spoke with a member of the Teachers Union in Istanbul, Muhammad Fatih Sertkay, who indicated that he had arrived by land via Jordan.

Sertkay considered that "the greatest good that can be done for Jerusalem is to visit it," calling on the Turks to visit the mosque, saying, "We are waiting for you all in Al-Aqsa Mosque and Jerusalem."

Israeli restrictions

Regarding the restrictions imposed by the occupation forces on Turkish visitors, Qadir Agun, owner of the “Irfan Tourism” company, said - in his interview with Al Jazeera Net - that it is noticeable that restrictions have increased on visitors coming from Turkey in particular, especially in recent years, such as waiting for long hours at Israeli airports without explanation. The reasons are in addition to the difficulty of obtaining the necessary permissions to enter.

Agun added that Turkish visitors go to Jerusalem with feelings of longing and a beautiful spiritual state that is only disturbed by the sight of Israeli occupation soldiers in all the alleys of Jerusalem and at the gates of Al-Aqsa Mosque and the many inspection and investigation checkpoints located in various parts of this holy city.

He touched on the cost of travel from Turkey to Jerusalem, stressing that prices remain affordable compared to trips from other countries, as the average cost ranges around one thousand US dollars for a period that includes 3 nights and 4 days.

Agun expected an increase in restrictions on Turkish visitors during the current year, especially in light of the intense security restrictions imposed by the occupation forces in conjunction with the aggression on the Gaza Strip, in addition to the tension in Turkish-Israeli diplomatic relations since the seventh of last October.

Source: Al Jazeera