1st World Congress of Muslim Philanthropists under the theme “Facing Challenges and Finding Solutions” was held in Istanbul on March 22-24 2008 with the participation of famous and influential philanthropists and representatives of NGOs from all over the world. Cihangir İşbilir, General Coordinator, participated in the congress on behalf of UNIW.
Mr. İşbilir gave information about UNIW, and had some important contacts regarding next term activities of UNIW.
In the premiere night dinner of the congress, after having a talk with the Turkish Prime, Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu, the Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, Cihangir İşbilir asked the participants to support the ‘solidarity and coordination approach’ that UNIW wants to develop. Tariq H. Chaeema, the founder of the Congress, stated that UNIW was a very important organization and they would like to cooperate with UNIW.
The congress threw some very famous figures together such as Shahid Malik, who became the first Muslim Minister of England, as well as the Minister of International Development, Ibrahim Rassol; the Prime Minister of South Africa Western Cape, Hamza Yusuf Hanson, and the founder of the USA-centred Institute of Zaytuna; and Qatar Prince and the founder of Daho Academy, Sheikh Aisha Al-Thani.
In the opening speech, Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu, the Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, stated that Islamic relief and humanitarian organizations had encountered obstacles and many difficulties and they had to prepare a road map so as to overcome these difficulties and obstacles.
He also added that humanitarian activities take an important place in OIC’s activities. OIC has started limited but successful campaigns. Some relieves and aid campaigns in Afghanistan, Bosnia, Indonesia, Nigeria, and Gaza can be given as good examples.
Sheikha Al Mayassa Bint Hamat Al Thani, the Chairman of “Reach out Asia Association” conducting activities in Qatar stated that since delivery of relief and aid sometimes were not conducted properly, expected objectives were not attained.
“These activities should be put together, should be combined.”
Ibrahim Rassol, the Prime Minister of South Africa Western Cape, stating that poverty was not an exception, poverty was an inherent quality of globalization. “Qualified people have immigrated to developed countries from now on. We face inequality and shortage in the global commerce.” He added that we had to form a new paradigm and first of all shouldn’t support violence and crime.
Ali Bardakoğlu, the Chairman of the Presidency of Religious Affairs, stated that if what has been happening in the world is assessed carefully and sensitively, it would be seen that great anguish had been suffered and mankind made the world very chaotic. “We were sent to this world with two blessings: first one is bearing love, affection, humanness, the feeling of helping each other in our hearts”. He also said that the reason why mankind could not use these virtues is that he cannot transcend his own boundaries. “If we know ourselves, the world, the existence, the Almighty Allah, it is enough. All are an interrelated whole.”
Other subjects which were dealt within the scope of the congress are as follows: “the rise of social justice”, “general view to humane crisis in the world”, “an important example in humane crisis: refugees”, “giving in hard times: providing legitimacy in a rapidly changing political atmosphere”, “humane development index: a close glance to the inequality in the Muslim world”, “faith and philanthropy: relationship between benevolence and religion”, “going beyond boundaries for common denominator: cooperation that can’t be limited by cultures and religions”, “new mission of aid in a changing sociology of Turkey, philanthropists’ attempts”, “from philanthropy to change: philanthropists’ efforts in the Arabic world”, “on the scale changing problems, new interpretation of philanthropy”.
At the end of the first day of the congress, premiere night dinner of the Congress of International Philanthropists, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Ibrahim Rassol (the Prime Minister of South Africa Western Cape), Nimet Çubukçu (Minister of State), Shahid Malik (the minister of International Development), Prof.Dr. Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu (the secretary general of Organization of the Islamic Conference), Muammer Güler, (the Governor of Istanbul), Kadir Topbaş, (the Mayor of Istanbul metropolitan), Sheikha Aisha Al- Thani as well as academicians, businessmen and philanthropists attended the premiere night dinner of the congress of international philanthropists.
In the premiere night dinner of the congress, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said that because of problems stemming from changing ecological conditions, inequalities in income distribution and injustice in the world, millions of people lived in more difficult conditions. Having underlined the importance of hosting the congress for Istanbul, he said that it was a right decision to choose Istanbul, for Istanbul had been host of many ancient civilizations.
We were proud of calling for the determination of cooperation to give a helping hand for all people regardless of their beliefs and homes and all kinds of differences. Pointing out that he was very happy to see the efficient participation of NGO of Turkey in this organization aimed at providing cooperation and coordination among world NGO’s, he added “Holding this congress in Istanbul is very meaningful as Istanbul is a waqf city having the historical root of benevolence and philanthropy.
Waqfs, either in Turkey or Ottoman territories, had been the protector of the poor and the destitute for 960 years, and now they are still the protectors of them. This tradition has been going on in these lands for centuries. The first important waqf was built in Pasinler in 1048 under the Seljuk’s rule. This system was initiated exactly 960 years ago in order to take care of the stranded, to feed the poor.”
www.thewcmp.org
