Prayers held for Turkish intellectual in Masjid al-Aqsa

By Esat Firat

JERUSALEM (AA) - Funeral prayers in absentia were held at the Masjid al-Mosque in occupied eastern Jerusalem’s Masjid al-Aqsa following the departure of a renown Turkish intellectual.

Nuri Pakdil, known as the “poet of Jerusalem”, passed away on Friday at the age of 85 in capital Ankara due to respiratory conditions.

Born in the southeastern Kahramanmaras province of Turkey, Pakdil started writing in his high school days. In his lifetime, he contributed significantly to Turkish literature by writing over 40 books.

Regarded as a gifted poet, he was granted dozens of awards by literary communities.

Pakdil always defined himself as an Islamist and revolutionist. His motto was "I stand by the religion that stands by labor and freedom."

*Writing by Ali Murat Alhas