Turkish businessman recounts feelings about touching act from Azerbaijani man

By Ruslan Rehimov

BAKU (AA) - A Turkish businessman recounted his feelings about a heart-touching act from an Azerbaijani man who was pictured rushing to help earthquake victims in his car with a Turkish flag on top of the vehicle.

Azerbaijanis mobilized to heal Türkiye’s wounds with aid after two major earthquakes shook southern Türkiye on Feb.6 that has since killed more than 45,000 people.

Living in Ceyranbatan near the Azerbaijani capital of Baku, Sarvar Bashirli, rushed to help brotherly Türkiye.

A picture went viral on social media of the 33-year-old Azerbaijani that showed him driving a car that was packed with items for those affected by the earthquakes with a Turkish flag sitting on top.

Afterward, Turkish businessman Sebahattin Civelek donated a car as a gift to Bashirli and hopes to build his house.

Civelek told Anadolu that he was speechless when he saw the picture.

“I was very touched,” he said. “In fact, we saw the hand that Azerbaijan extended to the Turkish people through Sarvar Bashirli. I should give this brother a car as a thank you gift.”

He said Bashirli did not accept the gift at first but he insisted.

"I came to Baku to see him. We hugged each other like two brothers who had not seen each other for years, we had very emotional moments. I hope we will build his house,” said Civelek.

Regarding the decrepit 1981 model year car, he said: "That old car has a throne in our hearts. That car should be kept and protected as a symbol of friendship between our nation.”

* Writing by Seda Sevencan in Istanbul