TRT General Manager Sobacı: The Crisis of Conscience Unveiled in Gaza
The eighth edition of the TRT World Forum 2024, with the theme “Managing Crises and Transformations in a World at a Turning Point,” is currently underway, shaping the global agenda. Speaking at the opening program, TRT General Manager Mehmet Zahid Sobacı stated, “We are facing a crisis more destructive and devastating than any we have known. This crisis is called a crisis of conscience. The most concrete example of this crisis is the genocide in Gaza.”
TRT World Forum 2024, one of the largest and most high-profile forums in the media sector worldwide, continues with over 150 speakers from more than 30 countries and over 1500 participants from diverse regions under the theme “Managing Crises and Transformations in a World at a Turning Point.” The opening of the Forum, hosted by TRT General Manager Mehmet Zahid Sobacı, was attended by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Presidential Communications Director Fahrettin Altun, Former Croatian President Ivo Josipović, Lebanese Information Minister Ziad Makary, Former Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė, and numerous guests from the political and media spheres.
Turkey’s Strong Leadership as the Hope of the Oppressed
Sobacı highlighted the increasing number of people affected by crises worldwide, emphasizing that the foundations of the international system are being profoundly shaken by these developments. He pointed out that most of the current global issues are unfolding in the region where Turkey is located, surrounded by multifaceted and challenging trials. Sobacı stated, “Dealing with regional and global issues in a geography surrounded by multi-dimensional and challenging trials is not just a choice but a necessity and a historical responsibility for Turkey. At this point, I would like to clearly state that Turkey’s greatest advantage in these trials is undoubtedly its strong leadership. The unique political and diplomatic model led by our President, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, not only protects and promotes our country’s rights and interests but also offers humanity the recipe for a fairer world.”
The Crisis of Conscience: A Closer Look at Gaza
Referring to the situation in Gaza, Sobacı underscored, “We are facing a crisis more destructive and devastating than any we have known. This crisis is called a crisis of conscience. The most concrete example of this crisis is the genocide in Gaza.” Reminding the audience of the grim reality of the ongoing genocide in Gaza for over a year, he continued, “Those who observe from afar must understand that the victims of genocide are not just numbers. Lives extinguished by a bullet, a shrapnel piece, or the toxic gas of a phosphorus bomb are real human lives! These people are ordinary individuals trying to lead a simple life under the same sky as all of us, sharing the same hopes and dreams. Insisting on not seeing the true suffering of these individuals, refusing to hear their most basic human demands, Western countries have fallen short beneath the so-called values they try to export to the world, putting humanity on hold. Media organizations that have become part of the genocide industry have sold their souls and consciences by remaining silent, even supporting genocide. However, as in every humanitarian crisis, Turkey has undertaken the responsibility to stand up against the oppression in Gaza.”
Sobacı emphasized that TRT has been striving to uphold Turkey’s vision that prioritizes justice and truth globally, especially regarding the ongoing genocide in Gaza. He stated, “From the day the genocide began, we have been the voice of Gaza, narrating the events to billions of people in their native languages. In doing so, we have also been subjected to the relentless harassment, attacks, and obstructions of the genocidal Israel.”
Media’s Complicity in Genocide
Expressing the necessity of amplifying the cries from every corner of Gaza to the world, Sobacı stated, “We must place the overlooked stories of the oppressed Palestinian people at the center of the frame. This is our debt to Rim, who bid farewell to her grandfather with a kiss on his eyes before burying him, to Hind, who was targeted by hundreds of bullets inside the vehicle she awaited help in for days, to the Palestinian parents forced to carry the corpses of their beloved children in bags, and to the oppressed Gazan brother. As long as Turkey’s TRT exists, every moment of the genocide they try to conceal will be documented, and the dignified march of the Palestinian people, whose cries have been ignored, inspiring all oppressed worldwide, will continue to be narrated piercingly. We believe that falsehood is doomed to perish. As TRT, we draw inspiration and courage from your unwavering stance, Mr. President, in preserving the dignity of the media.”
The TRT World Forum, which brings together world leaders, is taking place on November 29-30, 2024, at the Istanbul Congress Center under the theme “Managing Crises and Transformations in a World at a Turning Point.” The Forum has been a platform for numerous speakers and guests from various countries since its inception in 2017. This year, President Erdoğan, along with local and international policymakers, business leaders, academics, journalists, and other thought leaders, are gathering to discuss topics such as the Middle East and Gaza, Turkey, Africa, Russia-Ukraine, Politics and Diplomacy, Geopolitics, War and Security, Climate and Energy, Technology, Media and Broadcasting, International Law, and Economy.
