Erdogan becomes the first recipient of the Order of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi

Tengrinews.kz — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has awarded the Khoja Ahmed Yasawi Order to the President of Turkey, citing Akorda.

The President noted that it is impossible to speak of Turkestan without mentioning the spiritual beacon of the entire Turkic world—Khoja Ahmed Yasawi.

"Hazret Sultan harmoniously united the Turkic spirit with Islamic civilization. His cultural heritage left an indelible mark not only on the Great Steppe but also on Anatolia. Many prominent thinkers of the Turkic world are considered followers of Hazret Sultan. In this regard, the great Yunus Emre deserves special mention, as the influence of Yasawi’s teachings is clearly visible in his works. This continuity is also evident in the writings of the great Kazakh poet and thinker Abai. Undoubtedly, the spiritual legacy of this renowned sage serves as a guide for the nation and an example for future generations. During the Nauryz celebrations, I visited the sacred city of Turkestan and the Mausoleum of Hazret Sultan. During that trip, I launched an important initiative to include an order named after Khoja Ahmed Yasawi in the state awards system. This honor is to be bestowed upon distinguished scholars, as well as state and public figures from Kazakhstan and abroad, for exceptional contributions to our country's development. The relevant law was passed and a special decree signed. Indeed, this is a prestigious award of exceptional significance. In designing the order, we chose light green, which holds special meaning in Islam. The silver used in its design represents purity. In short, this award is intended to glorify the spiritual precepts of Hazret Sultan. Overall, our country is actively working on the systematic and large-scale study of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi’s legacy," Kassym-Jomart Tokayev remarked.

The Head of State announced his decision to award the Khoja Ahmed Yasawi Order to the President of Turkey. According to him, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will become the first recipient of this order, a gesture of profound symbolic significance.

"This distinction is a vivid embodiment of the principles of spiritual brotherhood and historical justice established by our great ancestor. Honorable Mr. President, your prestige in Kazakhstan is very high. Our people respect, love, and support you. Dear friend, please accept this high award as well-deserved recognition of your role as a leader of the Turkic world. It also serves as an expression of our country's sincere gratitude to you and the entire Turkish people. I wish you strong health, and prosperity and well-being to the brotherly Turkish people!" the President of Kazakhstan stated.

As a reminder, the creation of the new state award—the Khoja Ahmed Yasawi Order—was announced by the President in March during a speech to the public in the Turkestan region.