Tesnim Suhayb Ulvan, a 12-year-old Palestinian who completed her education up to the 5th grade in Turkey, wrote a touching letter to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, calling him “a merciful father to every oppressed Muslim on Earth.”
The young girl, who had returned to Gaza with her family three months before Israel’s attacks on the Gaza Strip began on October 7, 2023, shared that her home was bombed during the ongoing Israeli strikes.
In an interview with Anadolu Agency, Tesnim revealed that during the Israeli attacks, she wrote a letter to President Erdoğan but kept it with her as she didn’t know how to send it. In her handwritten letter, Tesnim referred to President Erdoğan as “dear grandfather” and mentioned how deeply she was moved after seeing him cry for Esma el-Baltacı, who died in Egypt. These images, she said, never left her mind.
In the letter, Tesnim expressed her admiration for President Erdoğan, saying, “You have a very kind heart, and I know you as a merciful father to every oppressed Muslim on earth. Since then, I have been remembering compassionate helpers like you who have been fighting against the cursed wars throughout human history.”
She further wrote, “Dear President Erdoğan, you may not know the extent of your love in the hearts of all Palestinians, but rest assured, your love fills the hearts of all people. We’ve never seen a better leader than you in defending the truth and the oppressed.”
Tesnim ended her message by saying, “I sent this message to you, dear grandfather, as my heart waits and misses the sound of your voice, encouraging us while giving us hope for a better future.”
She also wished President Erdoğan health and well-being and prayed for the well-being of all Gazan children, Muslims, and oppressed people.
