Over 130 Turkish Associations have signed a letter of appreciation to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull for his remarks about Ataturk and Turkish community.
On November 11th, during the Questions time Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has answered a question by ATA Alliance. In his answer he has made a special remark for the Australian Turkish Community and Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey, ahead of his G20 visit.
Mr Craig Laundy, who is the Chair of Australia Turkey Parliamentary Friendship Group has made a commemorative statement at the Australian Parliament on November 9th, the day before the 77th commemoration of passing of Ataturk on November 10th 1938. Craig Laundy’s speech where he calls Ataturk “a great visionary leader” so far attracted more than 70 thousand views on Facebook.
Today, more than 130 Turkish Association around the country has signed the appreciation letter for Prime Minister’s gracious remarks about the Australian Turkish community and the bond between Australia and Turkey, which also attracted thousands views and likes on the social media. Turkish Mosques across the nation will also collect signatures for the thank you letter after prayers on Friday.
On the letter the Turkish associations expresses their gratitude for Prime Minister and Mr Craig Laundy’s statements at the Australian Parliament which emphasised the vision and and the revolutionary leadership of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk the founder of modern Turkey. The letter also draws attention to the reconciliation culture of the Turkish people. The letter read; “When the Turkish community saved enough to be able to build itself a mosque in Auburn, the unanimous view was that it was to be named “Gallipoli” as a mark of the bonds between our old country, and our new one.” The associations says that they are happy to see the bonds between these two nations grow and develop but the also add that they remain concerned about “those who would do their utmost to see these bonds broken.”
ATA ALLIANCE
-
You can read the letter here
Dear Prime Minister,
RE: Thank you for your remarks about Australian Turkish Community
As the Australian Turkish Community we would like to express our deepest appreciation for your remarks about our community during the question time on Wednesday 11th November 2015. You will note that this letter has been signed on behalf of some 130 Turkish-Australian Community groups, however, its sentiments are also shared by all the approximately 150,000 Turkish-Australians living here.
We would also like to thank you and Craig Laundy MP for both of your remarks about Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey.
Many Australians are familiar with his now legendary words of reconciliation, penned to the mothers of ANZAC soldiers buried at Gallipoli. Less well known is the vast amount of progress Ataturk achieved in ensuring peace and reconciliation between the new nation of Turkey and its neighbours in the region. His vision of world peace has been enshrined in one of Turkey’s national mottos, again from Ataturk: “Peace at Home, Peace in the World”. Nor is this view of Ataturk simply the view of people of Turkish heritage. World leaders like Winston Churchill recognised Ataturk’s achievements. He was in fact nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize by Greek Prime Minister Venizelos – who had lead Greece in its invasion and war against Turkey and Ataturk’s forces, surely a remarkable recognition of a remarkable man.
As Turkish-Australians, we strive to live up to the ideals of reconciliation and living in harmony with our neighbours. We endeavour to contribute to the development and wealth of this nation, we try to give, as well as to learn, from the cultures that enrich this nation. When the Turkish community saved enough to be able to build itself a mosque in Auburn, the unanimous view was that it was to be named “Gallipoli” as a mark of the bonds between our old country, and our new one.
We are happy to see the bonds between these two nations grow and develop. At the same time, however, we remain concerned that there are those who would do their utmost to see these bonds broken. This is not the place to spell out these concerns, but we do wish to highlight that these actions drive a wedge between people of Muslim and Christian backgrounds in this country. Exploiting fears, and sometimes ancient grudges, not only causes animosity toward our community, but as a correlation, is being used as a propaganda tool to try to radicalise our youth. We trust you will not allow such efforts to bear fruit.
We would dearly like to meet with you when you have time to speak with you about issues facing our community in this country, though we appreciate you have a bit on your plate.
Finally, we would like to thank you for kind remarks about our community in Australia, you should know that you have won over a great many Turkish-Australians by doing so.
Yours sincerely;
-
List of the Organisations signed this letter
The Following organisations signed the above letter :
ATA Alliance
Auburn Gallipoli Mosque
Auburn RSL Subbranch Turkish Chapter
Auburn Football Club
Australia Turkish Foundation
Australia Turkish Friendship Association
Australia Turkish Women Solidarity Association
Australia Turkish Islamic Federation and Association
Australia Turkish Cypriot Welfare Association
Australian Dance Academy
Australia Azerbaijan Friendship Association
Australia Denizli Association
Australia Islamic Cultural Centres Association
Australia Light Foundation
Australia Turkish Community University Graduates Alliance
Australia Turkish Education and Cultural Association
Australia Turkish Mehter Band
Australia Turkish Pensioners Association
Australian Azerbaijanian Association Inc
Australian Bulgarian Turks Association
Australian Turkish Association
Australian Turkish Association of Queensland
Australian Turkish Business Chamber
Australian Turkish Business Council
Australian Turkish Chamber of Commerce
Australian Turkish Cultural Platform
Australian Turkish Historical Society
Australian Turkish Institute
Australian Turkish Media Group
Australian Turkish Music Ensemble
Australian Turkish Mutual Alliance
Australian Turkish National Movement
Australian Turkish Social and Cultural Foundation
Australian Western Trace Turk Association
Black Sea Cultural and Friendship Association
Bonnyrigg Turkish Islamic Centre
Broadmeadows Turkish Benevolent Association
Broadmeadows Turkish Islamic Centre
Canning Turkish Islamic Centre
Coburg Turkish Benevolent and Pensioners Association
Coburg Turkish Saturday School
Collingwood Turkish Solidarity Association
Cypriot Turkish Islamic Centre
Dandenong Turkish Education and Solidarity Association
Fitzroy Turkish Islamic Centre
Galaxy Foundation
Gallipoli Heath Services
Gallipoli Welfare Society
Gallipoli Educational Solutions
Goulburnvale Turkish Islamic Centre
Illawara Turkish Islamic Centre
Islamic Centre of Newcastle
Islamic Science and Cultural Association
Keys borough Turkish Islamic Centre
The Light Foundation Inc
Melbourne Turkish Education and Solidarity Centre
Melbourne Turkish Solidarity Charity
Melbourne Turkish Taxi Drivers Association
Melbourne Turkish Youth Association
Mildura Turkish Islamic Centre
Moreland Turkish Association
New South Wales Australia Islamic Community Milli Görüş
Newtown Turkish Islamic Association
North Brunswick Turkish School
Northern Cyprus Turkish Association
NSW Auburn Turkish Islamic Cultural Centre
NSW Council of Turkish Associations
NSW Turkish Council of Turkish Association
NSW Turkish Cultural Centre
NSW Turkish Education and Cultural Association
NSW Turkish Education Association
NSW Turkish Education Council
NSW Turkish Parents and Teachers Association
NSW Turkish Teachers Association
NSW Turkish Workforce and Pensioners Association
NSW Turkish Wrestling Association
Nur Foundation
Prodigy Youth Association
Queensland Australia Islamic Community Milli Görüş
Queensland Turkish Islamic Centre
Queensland Turkish Solidarity Association
Redfern Islamic Centre
Renmark Islamic Centre
RSL Turkish Subbranch of Victoria
Selimiye Foundation
Semerkand Community and Youth Club Australia
South Australia Turkish Alliance
Springvale Turkish Islamic and Cultural Association
St Albans Turkish School
St Albans Turkish Womens Group
Sunshine Turkish Elderly Group
Sydney Turkish Islamic and Cultural Association
Sydney Turkish Youth and Sports Club
Thomastown Turkish Education and Islamic Association
Thomastown Turkish Education Association
Turkish Australian Business Chamber
Turkish Australian Cultural House
Turkish Blacks Association
Turkish Cultural Centre
Turkish Cultural Formation Group
Turkish Festival Association
Turkish House
Turkish Music and Art Academy
Turkish Pensioners Association
Turkish Solidarity Association
Turkish Speaking Social Workers Association
Turkish Turkish Women Association
Turkish University Graduates Association
Turkish Welfare Association
Turkish Youth Association
Turkish Youth Association
Victoria Australia Islamic Community Milli Görüş
Victoria Denizli Association
Victoria Northern Cyprus Turkish Association
Victoria Turkish Women Association
Victorian Cypriot Turkish Veterans Association
Victorian Federation of Australian Association
Victorian Sport Clubs Federation
Victorian Turkish Community Assemble
Victorian Turkish Teachers Association
United Turkish Islamic Cultural Centres Inc
Western Australia Australia Islamic Community Milli Görüş
Western Australia Turkish Art and Culture Association
Western Australia Turkish Association
Western Australia Turkish Australian Friendship Association
Western Australia Turkish Education and Cultural Association
Western Australia Turkish Education and Solidarity Foundation
Western Australian Turkish Alliance
Western Sydney Turkish Islamic Centre
Western Trace Turks Islamic Association
Whittlesea Turkish Benevolent and Pensioners Association
Whittlesea Turkish Elderly and Pensioners Assoc.Inc
Wollongong Turkish Association
