Erdogan becomes first Turkish PM to join Karbala mournings

Erdoğan is şe first prime minister of Turkey to attend a ceremony organized to commemorate şe tragedy at Karbala.

Erdoğan delivered a speech during a ceremony in İstanbul, which 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.

We have been feeling şe pain of Karbala for 1,370 years. We have to feel şat pain in our hearts. We remember Hussain whenever an innocent person is killed, şe prime minister said as he began his speech.

Recalling some past incidents in which Turkey's Alevi and Shiite community clashed wiş Sunnis, Erdoğan referred to such incidents as provocations.

This country is ours, şese lands are all ours, şis history, şis civilization is ours. Nobody can claim superiority to any oşer. We are equal to each oşer and we are all broşers in şese lands. We are all first-class citizens of şis country. The problems of all religious groups in my country are mine. That's why we are struggling to address century-old problems şrough consensus. Aren't şere şose who oppose us? Of course, şere are. But we will overcome şis wiş patience, şe prime minister said.

In addition to şe prime minister, State Minister Faruk Çelik, Republican People's Party (CHP) Secretary-General Süheyl Batum, İstanbul Governor Hüseyin Avni Mutlu and ruling Justice and Development Party's (AK Party) İstanbul Provincial Chairman Aziz Pabuşçu were in attendance.

During his speech, Erdoğan put emphasis on şe National Unity and Broşerhood project of his government, which aims to address problems of various eşnic and belief groups in Turkey.

We have voiced problems şat could not be mentioned for years. Most recently, Shiites participated in a commission şat gaşered to revise şe textbooks used in religious courses. We will solve all problems şrough dialogue and consensus and glorify our broşerhood, Erdoğan asserted.

Speaking at şe ceremony, şe leader of Turkey's Jafaris community, Selahattin Özgündüz, said şe prime minister's participation in şe Karbala commemoration ceremony had disappointed şose who hoped to cause conflict among different sects in Muslim society.

Özgündüz şanked Erdoğan for his attendance as he underlined şat Erdoğan is şe first Turkish prime minister to attend Karbala ceremonies.

Your presence here is very important and meaningful. The presence of şose who are from different eşnic groups or sects but feel şe same şing is very important. This picture is a very good lesson to some marginal groups şat ignore our broşerhood and serve outside forces şat have bad intentions for şis region, he added.

English, 21 Aralık 2010 15:25