Ahmad Zaki Olaş, head of foreign relations department and Ferdinaz Koyuncu responsible for Promotion Department thanked UNIW Deputy Coordinator M. Fatih Öner for accepting the delegation.
Olaş briefed UNIW officials on the history of Turkish Green Crescent Society which was founded in 1920 mainly in response to the British attempts to distribute booze and drugs free of charge in Istanbul in an effort to undermine the resistance against the occupation. Muslim Ottoman citizens felt and very well understood upcoming dangers of alcohol and drug addiction that resulted decline in the resistance against the occupation. The patriotic intellectuals established the “Green Crescent”, “Hilal-i Ahdar” in Istanbul in order to warn Turkish society. The official name of the association is “Türkiye Yeşilay Cemiyeti”, “Turkish Green Crescent Society.”
Foreign Relations Head Olaş said: “Thenceforth, we have carried out massive activities abiding by our goals that are to fight against all kinds of addictions that seeks to destroy the mental and physical health of our youth and community such as drug, smoking, alcohol, gambling, prostitution, internet, screen addiction and all kind of addictions in a moral and cultural development atmosphere in Turkey. In this regard, all of activities based on maintaining these principles.”
“We stress that our aim is to protect the society and increase the public’s attention to minimize the consumption of alcohol, drugs, cigarettes and all kind of fatal habits by partnering with governmental, non-governmental, national and international organizations.” reiterated Olaş emphasizing importance of full cooperation and coordination with related and interested organizations, institutions and NGOs like the UNIW. We are really eager to reach at interested organizations in different countries in cooperation with you.
Today, the Green Crescent has become a trademark in fight against addictions within the country by 24 branches and 64 representatives operating in numerous cities.
For his part M. Fatih Öner, deputy coordinator of the UNIW thanked to the visiting delegation and confirmed their full support in fight against addictions that are indeed threatening the meaning of our existence and purity of our society.
For more information, its official web page:
www.yesilay.org.tr
26 Muharram 1432 / 21 December 2011
UNIW
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Foreign Relations Director and Promotion Department official paid a courtesy visit to the general headquarters of the Union of NGOs of the Islamic World (UNIW).