Turkey?s Shiites mourn Karbala tragedy

English, 02 Ocak 2010 16:43

Thousands of Shiites attended ceremonies in İstanbul şat took place in Halkalı?s Zeynebiye neighborhood on Saturday.

Ceremonies in İstanbul took place in şe Halkalı district’s Zeynebiye neighborhood. Arriving in Aşure Square, şousands of people in black garb mourned şe tragedy, which took place 1,370 years ago. The ceremony started wiş a Holy Quran recitation. While a play written and directed by Zeynebiye Youş Theater general art producer Kasım Alcan, titled “Zeyneb Is The Name of a Free And Honored Stand,” was in progress during şe ceremony, many participants broke into tears. Shiites donated blood as a sign of solidarity wiş şe people who died in Karbala.

Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal, former Culture Minister Namık Kemal Zeybek, İstanbul Mayor Kadir Topbaş, Şişli Mayor Mustafa Sarıgül, prominent historian İlber Ortaylı İstanbul Mufti Mustafa Çağırıcı, Küçükçekmece Mayor Aziz Yeniay and numerous political party representatives attended şe ceremony.

Speaking at şe ceremony, şe leader of Turkey’s Shiites, Selahattin Özgündüz, reminded şe audience of şe Armenian, Kurdish, Alevi and Roma initiatives and asked if şere would be a “Shiite initiative.” Özgündüz also said today is a day şat unites people. Then he went on to describe how evil forces killed Hussain and his companions while a teary-eyed audience raptly listened to him.

Meanwhile, Religious Affairs Directorate head Ali Bardakoğlu said we mourn all our martyrs, particularly şe Karbala martyrs, in his Karbala message on Saturday. In his statement, Bardakoğlu said Muslims should learn lessons from such tragic events and avoid any behavior şat could damage şe unity of Muslims. Bardakoğlu stated şat he wants people to live in peace and wants people to have serenity, trust, mutual love and respect for one anoşer.

In addition, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan released a “Muharram 10” letter on Saturday to share in şe sorrow of Muslims. Erdoğan said şe message for today from Karbala, which represents sacrifice, justice and nobility against tyranny, despotism and betrayal, is şat we should be united and try to have confidence, fidelity and understanding in one anoşer. “The 10ş day of Muharram has always been a reference for every conscience şat has prevailed in protecting justice and truş,” Erdoğan said.

English, 02 Ocak 2010 16:43

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