Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivered a speech Sunday marking Eid al-Fitr, the holiday concluding the Muslim Holy Month of Ramadan, using the occasion to attack Israel. "Look at everything happening in Palestine. May Allah bring destruction and ruin upon Zionist Israel. May we remain strong and united as brothers while witnessing this, and may Allah preserve this eternal brotherhood," Erdogan said in his holiday address, surrounded by religious figures, politicians, and dozens of his supporters.
Earlier Sunday, reports emerged that Erdogan's decision to pardon two members of the Kurdish Hezbollah terror organization has ignited widespread public outrage in Turkey, occurring simultaneously with massive protests against his administration.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan makes statements after Eid prayer at Buyuk Camlica Mosque, saying: "May Allah destroy and devastate Zionist Israel" pic.twitter.com/XUV2G5dmvg
— Türkiye Today (@turkiyetodaycom) March 30, 2025
The two terrorists were involved in planning and carrying out an attack on a Turkish police station that resulted in three deaths. Journalists aligned with the opposition asserted that the pardons were implemented as part of Erdogan's strategy to strengthen relationships with religious factions within Kurdish society. The Kurdish Hezbollah terror organization is an extremist Sunni religious group with no connection to the Lebanese terror group of the same name.
Erdogan's office announced the release of the two individuals in a statement detailing 10 pardons granted to mark Eid al-Fitr. Erdogan is currently facing intense criticism regarding his detention of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, an action that has triggered widespread demonstrations throughout Turkey.
Mahmut Tanal, a parliament member from the Republican People's Party, condemned the decision, writing: "Erdogan pardoned two terrorists who received aggravated life sentences. What about the hundreds of students who protested and are now in detention? What about the young people who are unjustly behind bars? Erdogan, holidays are not celebrated with injustice and oppression."
