Sacred Aid: A Historical Responsibility: A case study of three Turkish Transnational Organizations

Sacred Aid: A Historical Responsibility

Hansen, Katja Nørgaard

4. term

Development and International Relations, Master

2017

2017-03-20

67

For få årtier siden blev religion omtalt som et "udviklingstaboo", og trosbaserede organisationer (FBO'er) blev ofte overset i udviklingsstudier. Selvom interessen er vokset, har den primært fokuseret på vestlige, kristne FBO'er, mens islam er blevet nedprioriteret. Opmærksomheden på muslimske NGO'er har desuden ofte været præget af et sikkerhedsperspektiv efter 9/11 frem for af spørgsmål om, hvordan de forstår sig selv, deres religion og den hjælp, de yder. Denne afhandling undersøger religionens rolle i tre tyrkiske, muslimske transnationale organisationer: IHH, Cansuyu og Çare, med et ønske om at bevæge sig væk fra at betragte dem som udenrigspolitiske redskaber. Afhandlingen anvender Marie Juul Petersens analytiske ramme til at undersøge NGO'ernes hjælpsideologi gennem tre spor: deres visioner, rationaler og strategier. Formålet er at vurdere, om deres hjælp er sakraliseret (religiøst forankret) eller sekulariseret, og hvordan de placerer sig i to brede bistandskulturer: den vestlige udviklingsbistandskultur og den islamiske bistandskultur. Grundlaget for analysen er semistrukturerede interviews samt materialer som brochurer, magasiner, rapporter og information fra deres hjemmesider. Resultaterne viser, at de tre NGO'er i høj grad er indlejret i den islamiske bistandskultur. De opfatter fattigdom som både materiel og i høj grad også åndelig. Deres visioner omfatter et værdigt liv for muslimer og en styrkelse af det globale muslimske fællesskab (umma). Deres rationaler fremhæver religiøs belønning, forsvar af de fattiges (ofte muslimers) rettigheder, solidaritet i ummaen og et historisk ansvar knyttet til den osmanniske arv. Hjælp forstås som både religiøs pligt og historisk ansvar, der forbinder islamiske og nationale kontekster med deres arbejde. Strategierne inkluderer bl.a. nødhjælp, sociale projekter, omsorg for forældreløse, uddannelse, brøndboring, sundhedsindsatser, opførelse af moskeer og madraser, sæsonaktiviteter og menneskerettigheder. Selvom de er stærkt forankret i den islamiske bistandskultur, integrerer de også begreber fra den bredere udviklingspraksis. Samlet set spiller religion en central og strukturerende rolle i disse organisationer, og traditioner fra den osmanniske periode understøtter en hellig opfattelse af hjælp.

A few decades ago, religion was seen as a "development taboo," and faith-based organizations (FBOs) were often overlooked in development studies. While interest has grown, it has focused mainly on Western, Christian FBOs, with less attention to Islam. Attention to Muslim NGOs has also frequently been shaped by a post-9/11 security lens rather than by questions about how they understand themselves, their religion, and the aid they provide. This thesis examines the role of religion in three Turkish Muslim transnational organizations: IHH, Cansuyu, and Çare, aiming to move beyond viewing them as foreign policy tools. It uses Marie Juul Petersen’s analytical framework to study the NGOs’ ideology of aid through three frames: their visions, rationales, and strategies. The goal is to assess whether their aid is sacralized (religiously grounded) or secularized, and how they relate to two broad aid cultures: Western development aid culture and Islamic aid culture. The analysis draws on semi-structured interviews and materials such as brochures, magazines, reports, and information from their websites. Findings show that the three NGOs are largely embedded in Islamic aid culture. They view poverty as both material and, to a great extent, spiritual. Their visions include enabling a dignified life for Muslims and strengthening the global Muslim community (umma). Their rationales emphasize religious rewards, defending the rights of the poor (often Muslims), solidarity within the umma, and a sense of historical responsibility linked to the Ottoman legacy. Aid is understood as both a religious duty and a historical responsibility, connecting Islamic and national contexts to their work. Their strategies include relief, social projects, orphan care, education, drilling wells, healthcare, building mosques and madrasas, seasonal activities, and human rights. While deeply rooted in Islamic aid culture, they also integrate concepts from mainstream development practice. Overall, religion plays a central, structuring role in these organizations, with Ottoman-era traditions reinforcing a sacred view of aid.

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