By Sefa Sahin
ANKARA (AA) – Turkey’s top religious authority has spent over 10 million Turkish Liras ($1.6 million) to repair mosques and religious institutions destroyed by terror groups in northern Syrian regions.
In a new report titled “Syria Euphrates Shield and Olive Branch Activity Report “, Religious Affairs Directorate (Diyanet) gave details on its activities on humanitarian aid, religion and education fields in northern Syria.
The body repaired 108 mosques destroyed by terror groups in Jarablus, Azaz, Al-Bab, Rai, Mare, Turkman Bareh, Ihtimlat, and Ahterin, according to the report.
It spent over 10 million Turkish Liras ($1.6 million) for the restoration and renovation works.
The Diyanet released 30 videos in the Arabic language over social media in order to avert the negative impacts of Daesh terror group on the people, the report said.
The foundation also delivered leaflets to locals in the fight against exploiting the religion and violence. In order to fill the religion gap due to the conflict, Qurans in Kurdish were also delivered, it added.
Operation Euphrates Shield, which began on Aug. 24, 2016, and ended in March 2017, eliminated the terrorist threat along the border in the northern Syrian regions of Jarabulus, Al-Rai, Al-Bab, and Azaz with the use of the Free Syrian Army, backed by Turkish artillery and air cover.
On Jan. 20, Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch to remove YPG/PKK and Daesh terrorists from Afrin. On March 18, Turkish troops and the Free Syrian Army liberated the Afrin district center.
