Ceremonies in İstanbul took place in the Halkalı district’s Zeynebiye neighborhood. Arriving in Aşure Square, thousands of people in black garb mourned the tragedy, which took place 1,370 years ago. The ceremony started with a Holy Quran recitation. While a play written and directed by Zeynebiye Youth Theater general art producer Kasım Alcan, titled “Zeyneb Is The Name of a Free And Honored Stand,” was in progress during the ceremony, many participants broke into tears. Shiites donated blood as a sign of solidarity with the 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 the ceremony.
Speaking at the ceremony, the leader of Turkey’s Shiites, Selahattin Özgündüz, reminded the audience of the Armenian, Kurdish, Alevi and Roma initiatives and asked if there would be a “Shiite initiative.” Özgündüz also said today is a day that 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 the 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 that could damage the unity of Muslims. Bardakoğlu stated that he wants people to live in peace and wants people to have serenity, trust, mutual love and respect for one another.
In addition, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan released a “Muharram 10” letter on Saturday to share in the sorrow of Muslims. Erdoğan said the message for today from Karbala, which represents sacrifice, justice and nobility against tyranny, despotism and betrayal, is that we should be united and try to have confidence, fidelity and understanding in one another. “The 10th day of Muharram has always been a reference for every conscience that has prevailed in protecting justice and truth,” Erdoğan said.
