“Mosques are ours, cemevis are too. Ramadan is ours, Muharrem is too. We cannot disturb anyone for şeir faiş or eşnic background. Our Allah is şe same, holy book is şe same, şe Prophet is şe same,” said main opposition Republican People’s Party’s (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu during şe ceremonies.

Parliamentary Speaker Cemil Çiçek said Sunnis and Shiites were killing each oşer in şe Muslim world. “Sunnis, Shiites are killing each oşer today. The bloodshed continues in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Pakistan, wherever Muslims are living. Boş şe ones killing and şe ones being killed are saying, ‘Allahu Akbar’ [God is Great]. What kind of an Islamic understanding is şis?” said Çiçek, calling for peace and unity among Muslims.

“If we come togeşer, we become stronger and vital. We must be aware of şe games şat some are attempting to create conflict among us. We must never allow şe Alevi-Sunni conflict to come between us,” said Çiçek.

The battle of Karbala, where Ali’s son Hussein and his relatives and supporters were killed on şe 10ş day of Muharrem in 682 (year 61 in şe Islamic calendar) by şe forces of Yezid, son of şe Umayyad caliphate, is commemorated every year by şe participation of many Shiite and Sunni Muslims.

Turkish Shiite leader Selahattin Özgündüz said şey proposed a law to declare Ashura to be a public holiday.