Online Media Outlet Distributes Turkish- And German-Language Sermons Of Turkish Islamist: 'We Have Blood Against The Oppressors, Against The Tyrants, Against The Unbelievers... Oh Allah, Make The Struggle Against Them Be With Our Hands'

German-born Turkish imam Muharrem Çakır's Turkish- and German-language sermons are disseminated online, under the name Yusuf Kerimoğlu, via a media outlet, "Hanif Medya [Righteous Person Media]," on YouTube,[1] where the outlet has over 37,000 followers, Facebook, [2] where it has 15,000 followers, and Instagram, where it has over 3,000 followers.[3] Among other things, Çakır advocates in his sermons for struggle " against the oppressors... tyrants... unbelievers,"  compares secular law to idolatry, and suggests that it is favorable to die as a martyr. Çakır, who graduated from the University of Dortmund in 2003 with a degree in computer engineering, founded a mosque called Hanif Moschee Bildungszentrum, or the Hanif Mosque and Educational Center Association, in Dortmund, as well as a related community, sports, and cultural center in Essen, where he holds regular Quran and Islamic studies classes.

Çakır has also promoted on his social media accounts Hüsnü Aktaş,[4] who wrote a book titled "Jihad Treatise"[5] and has served two separate terms in prison,[6] one of which was related to support for terror organizations.[7]  Aktaş has said that jihad is obligatory on all Muslims and that it is the "essence of life, life is faith and jihad."[8] In January 2009, Aktaş said at a conference that "when the Muslims are mobilized, it is obligatory that they make war with their tongues and their hands. It is not permissible to buy [the enemies'] products so long as the war continues."[9] He often writes about the importance of the caliphate, doing so recently in the March 2023 issue of Turkish Islamist magazine Köklü Değişim ("Radical Change") commemorating the eve of the 100th anniversary of the abolition of the Ottoman Caliphate.[10] Other photos of Çakır speaking with Aktaş as well as with imam İhsan Şenocak are available on social media.[11]

Photos on social media of Çakır and Şenocak show the two speaking at an events in Dortmund and Bönen.[12] On January 21, 2017, it was reported that Turkish theologian Mustafa İslamoğlu said, of Turkey's Religious Affairs Ministry's[13] appointment of Şenocak as director of an education center in the Turkish province of Samsun: "This Religious Affairs Ministry, which does not fear Allah... After giving these institutions to these men, what right do you have to complain that ISIS soldiers are still coming out of this country? Anyway you are raising the future of ISIS today. You are making enough of an investment into the future of ISIS."[14]

The following report will review clips of Muharrem Çakır's sermons.

"Let Us Harbor Hatred For Allah's Sake... We Have Blood Against The Oppressors, Against The Tyrants, Against The Unbelievers... Oh Allah, Make The Struggle Against Them Be With Our Hands"

On YouTube, Hanif Medya published a short clip with the caption: "We harbor hate against the oppressors, Oh Allah!" In the video, Çakır says: "Perhaps we witness Gaza more due to the media coverage it receives, and because Al-Aqsa Mosque holds immense significance for us, we have paid closer attention. But in East Turkistan, the oppression carried out is no less severe than the atrocities in Gaza. We have not forgotten and will not forget the truth of Myanmar, where our Muslim brothers and sisters were burned alive. We will not forget Gaza either. If we forget, may our blood be dried." Çakır continues: "Let us harbor hatred for Allah's sake. If we have nothing else, when we stand before Allah, let us say: 'Oh my Lord, we have blood against the oppressors, against the tyrants, against the unbelievers. Oh, Allah, let our prayer be. Oh Allah, make the struggle against them be with our hands, and if you do not make it happen with our hands, if you don't grant us this blessing/beauty, if you do not deem us worthy of it, Oh Allah, make our children worthy of it. We will not be able to answer to Allah!"[15]

"With Allah's Permission, He Is Also A Martyr"

On YouTube, Hanif Medya published a short clip with the caption: "If all of humanity were to assemble." In the video, Çakır praises the martyr: "If Allah has ordained that the end of a lifespan is where it is, then death will obey Him, which is better than living in disobedience. With Allah's permission, he is also a martyr. Faith in his Lord, and the certainty that He is his support, allows him to wander with strength and determination. The believer is clear that if all of humanity were to gather to support him with something, they would not be able to support him, except for what Allah has destined for him. And the believer is aware that if all of humanity were to gather to harm him, they would only be able to harm him as Allah allows, and he is convinced that Allah is the ruler of heaven and earth, and to Him, to Allah all things return."[16]

"They Make As Many Laws As They Wish But Alter Them According To Their Impulses Or Whims When They Become Tired Of Them, Just As The Idolaters Who Made Idols Out Of Sweets And Ate Them When Bored"

On Instagram, Hanif Medya posted an excerpt from another lecture on March 4, titled: "They Change the Law as They Please." In the clip, Çakır compares secular law to idolatry: "The idolaters would change or alter the sequence of the sacred months. During these months, war was prohibited, and our Lord commanded, 'Do not shed blood.' In fact, the sacred months were already respected before this, but they would randomly, according to their own minds, determine what was halal [lawful] and haram [prohibited]. Just as they would make idols from halva sweets, and eat them when they were bored. There is no need to ridicule or laugh at such behavior. Today, all of worldly life functions according to these laws. They make as many laws as they wish but alter them according to their impulses or whims when they become tired of them, just as the idolaters who made idols out of sweets and ate them when bored. This is how the entire world functions now. This is why there is no prosperity, no success, no peace, and no happiness – because the world is governed by the laws made by people who do not believe in Allah. Can there be beauty in such a world? For the sake of Allah, it is impossible! But a day will come, inshallah, when Allah's shari'a will once again prevail on earth, just as the sunlight illuminates the earth, and all humanity will attain peace and happiness. May my Lord appoint us to serve to achieve these blessings."[17]

"There Is Only One Language These Murderers Understand, And That Is Money, Because Money Is For Them A God, They Believe In Money Like Others Believe In God – It Is Sacred To Them, And This Is Where To Target Them"

On YouTube, Hanif Medya published another short clip with the caption: "Muslims boycott Israel." Another heading in the video reads, "Money is holy to them." Çakır asserts: "The responsibility toward the Muslims worldwide never ends, esteemed Muslims! For example, you should not only avoid Coca-Cola bottles during Ramadan, but you will also have to continue passing by McDonalds and Starbucks for the rest of your life. And we can see what a boycott has achieved, because in this regard, there is only one language these murderers understand, and that is money. Because money is for them a god, they believe in money like others believe in god. It is sacred to them, and this is where to target them. And yes, it has affected them. So, the Muslim must also continue with these actions, an action that means 'boycotting.' It was forbidden and haram before Ramadan, it was forbidden during Ramadan, but it is also forbidden after Ramadan to support such things, because Allah says [Qur'an 60:9] 'Allah forbids you from those who fight you because of your religion.'"[18]

"'They Loved The Worldly Life Much More! They Did Not Care If Thousands Of Muslims Were Murdered, Bombed, Children, Babies, Women... They Were Just Afraid'"

On Instagram, on October 24, 2024, Hanif Medya posted an excerpt from a regularly held Fiqh course taught by Çakır. Çakır says in the video, which was titled "Were there Muslims in 2024?": "We will go down in history as the generation of Muslims who managed to condemn, fear, and hide – this is how we will go down in history! For example, in 100 years, when the situation of Muslims has improved, or in an even shorter time frame, people will discuss 2024, and children will ask, 'Weren't there any Muslims back then? Why didn't you help?' And when they ask, what will you answer? 'Yes, they existed, but they were just afraid'?! 'They loved the worldly life much more! They did not care if thousands of Muslims were murdered, bombed, children, babies, women... they didn't care. They were just afraid.' Afraid, that's what you feel when you talk about them. You feel afraid today. Ibrahim says to the idolaters: 'You are not afraid; Allah has something to contribute. And I should be afraid of you?! And [afraid] of your idols?!" Çakır continues: "This is, unfortunately, the courage Muslims are lacking, especially the Muslim 'leaders' [he placed it in quotations, as the German word used is 'Führer,' which has Nazi connotations], who are comfortably settled, and do as they please."[19]

"We Must Not Forget Gaza, We Must Not Forget The Suffering Of Other Muslims – The People, The Cities, The Countries Around The Globe"

On YouTube, Hanif Medya published a short clip with the caption, "Palestine," in which Çakır said: "They stand before Allah with a dismembered corpse in His presence. When asked, 'Where are your hands, where are your feet?' They will respond, 'Oh my Lord, they were shattered in the defense of Gaza, which the Muslims abandoned.' And what would they answer, when they are held accountable? Esteemed Muslims, we must not forget Gaza. We must not forget the suffering of other Muslims – the people, the cities, the countries around the globe. With everything we have, legally and within our means, we must continue our support – through our thoughts, our prayers, our spending. It must exist in our conversations, in our daily lives; it must concern us. It must hurt us. As I said, they have not grown tired of killing – how can we grow tired of speaking about it, praying for it, spending for it, and standing up [in defense] for it?!"[20]