This Video Does Not Show Celebrations at Al-Aqsa Mosque After Erdogan Secured Election Victory
The Claim
A video shows a celebration at Al-Aqsa Mosque after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan secured victory in the 2023 election.
Emerging story
Following the victory of Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the 2023 election, social media users and media pages circulated a video purporting to show the celebration taking place inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque courtyard.
The video, which gained huge attention in Turkish circles, was also published by the media outlet Yeni Şafak.
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar investigated the viral video and found the claim to be misleading.
Through a reverse image search, Misbar's team discovered that the video is outdated and predates Recep Tayyip Erdogan's victory in the 2023 election.
The Video Predates Turkey’s 2023 Election
Contrary to the claims being circulated, the video making the rounds was shot in April 2023.
On April 7, 2023, a TikTok user shared the video, but it lacked any accompanying caption or description.
Misbar's team conducted research on the events that occurred at Al-Aqsa Mosque on April 7 of this year and found a YouTube video, uploaded by AlQAhera News, which features a gathering in the Al-Aqsa Mosque courtyard from a different angle. The footage shows the gathering that occurred after the Fajr prayer, with individuals expressing their condemnation of the violations committed by the Israeli occupation.
Israel's Occupation Forces Storm Al-Aqsa Mosque in April
On April 7, Israeli occupation forces stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque and assaulted worshippers in front of Al-Aqsa Mosque, preventing some of them from performing the Fajr prayer inside.
Additionally, a group of Israeli settlers, protected by the occupation forces, also entered Al-Aqsa Mosque on Friday morning. They spread throughout the Old City of occupied Jerusalem in an attempt to provoke the local residents.
Occupation forces deployed reinforcements to Al-Aqsa Mosque following the Fajr prayer on the third Friday of Ramadan.
Many video clips featuring the Israeli forces' assault on worshippers have been shared online.
Erdogan Celebrates Election's Win
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has secured his re-election, according to the country's Supreme Election Council. After failing to secure more than 50 percent of the votes required for a clear victory in the first round on May 14, Erdogan emerged as the winner in a tense run-off. With nearly all votes counted, he received 52.14 percent of the votes in the second round, defeating his rival Kemal Kilicdaroglu, who garnered 47.86 percent.
This electoral outcome solidifies Erdogan's position in history as he extends his rule for another five years, making it a total of 20 years in power.
Erdogan made an appearance outside his residence in Istanbul's Uskudar, where he delighted the enthusiastic crowd with a song before expressing his gratitude. He stated, "We have successfully completed the second round of the presidential elections with the support of our citizens. With the trust you have placed in us over the past 21 years, we will continue to be deserving of that trust in the future."
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