Turkey’s top cleric welcomes Turkmen refugees

ANKARA

The head of Turkey's Religious Affairs Directorate has welcomed Turkmen refugees fleeing violence in Iraq.

Mehmet Gormez hosted a number Turkmen refugees from Kerkuk, Musul and Telafer to the Turkish capital, Ankara, on Monday.

Gormez made some remarks regarding the hardships Turkmens go through because of the violence in Iraq and Syria.

“We do not question the religion, language, race or color of a victim. A victim is a victim. No matter where in the world, if a person faces cruelty, we Muslims should look after them.”

Gormez also said NGO’s and public bodies should take care of the education of Turkmen children.

Tens of thousands of Turkmen from Syria’s northwestern region of Bayirbucak have been recently displaced due to a Russian air campaign.

Turkmen are a Turkic ethnic group based largely in Syria and Iraq, where they live alongside large Arab and Kurdish populations. The Turkmen community, which includes both Sunni and Shia Muslims, shares close cultural ties with the Turkish people.