Rabbi Mendy Chitrik, Chairman of Alliance of Rabbis in Islamic States, shared a photo from an Istanbul-based synagogue, where he hosts students of Marmara University Theology Faculty on his X account. The visit was not shared by faculty’s social media account.
People seeing the post were confused and shocked as the visit was made during the ongoing Gaza genocide. Majority of Muslims and non-Muslim people massively condemn Israel’s massacres and slam Israelis and Zionist Jews. Anti-visit posts on social media mutually highlight that visiting a synagogue at such a sensitive time is an irresponsible behavior of students, faculty and university officials.
Analysts have told Straturka that theology students are used as a tool for Israel’s PR propaganda. An analyst said they shouldn’t have gone to the synagogue to not be a part of Israeli information campaign. Another analyst said visitors may make speeches or share posts to mitigate criticism on Israel after being hosted in the synagogue. Some of them might have already changed their views about Israel due to massive pro-Israeli propaganda, the analyst added.
More criticism to visitors and organizers is expected in upcoming days.
