Thousands congregate in New York to share iftar joy

An iftar (fast-breaking meal) dinner was organized by the TCC in Queens County, New York on Saturday evening. (Photo: Cihan)
An iftar (fast-breaking meal) dinner was organized by the TCC in Queens County, New York on Saturday evening. (Photo: Cihan)


Date posted: June 23, 2015

SEZAİ KALAYCI / NEW YORK

Thousands of people in Queens County, New York attended an iftar (fast-breaking meal) dinner held on Saturday evening.

Muslims across the world fast every year during the holy month of Ramadan.

The Turkish Cultural Center (TCC) organized the iftar event in Queens. During the event, attendees of different religions were provided with information about the Ramadan tradition to contribute to inter-religious dialogue.

Governor of the State of New York Andrew Cuomo did not participate in the event, but sent his assistant to the iftar. Speaking during the event, TCC manager Oğuzhan Turan pointed out that the center’s aim is to keep Ramadan alive not only for Muslims, but also for everyone.

There were whirling dervishes on Saturday, the first day of the iftar tent organization. On Sunday, Iranian Amir Vahap and his band famous in New York for their Sufi music, took the stage for an hour, drawing great interest from an eclectic multi-national crowd.

Turan said that the center is planning to host iftar to more than 3,000 people, as they have done in previous years. Pointing out that its expectations for the first two days were fulfilled, Turan said: “Tomorrow is the last day of the iftar organization and we hope that more than 1,000 people will come, as they did today.”

Iftar in Turkish school in Romania

Turkish schools operating in Romania also hosted an iftar dinner, attended by thousands of people, on Saturday evening.

Lumina schools in Romania, which have been conducting their educational activities for 21 years, invited 1,000 people, including Turks and Romanians, to its annual iftar dinner organization. George Grigore described the atmosphere in the room, saying: “We have been invited to a Turkish iftar dinner. It has become a tradition here and has become the symbol of understanding and friendship. People from different beliefs are gathered here, but there is perfect tolerance and harmony.”

A Turkish businessman, Erhan Demirhan, also expressed his emotions, saying: “As Alevists, we see these schools, with both Romanians and Turks, providing the atmosphere of tolerance, love and respect.”

Source: Today's Zaman , June 21, 2015

Tags: | | | |


Related News

U.S. Not Persuaded to Extradite Fethullah Gulen Over Turkey Coup

Officials aren’t convinced by evidence against Fethullah Gulen, Pennsylvania-based imam who Turkey says masterminded the failed putsch. U.S. officials don’t expect to extradite an imam Turkey blames for masterminding a failed coup because they aren’t convinced by the evidence Ankara has presented so far and are troubled by threatening public statements from Turkish officials, according to people familiar with the discussions.

Pro-gov’t daily repeats Bharara controlled by Gülen movement, calls him ‘stupid’

One of the staunchly pro-government newspapers in Turkey, the Star, daily has repeated earlier claims about a US attorney, saying that he is controlled by the faith-based Gülen movement and “stupid.”

What do Alevis want?

Alevis have been traditionally considering themselves a minority because their interpretation of Islam differs from the state’s understanding. In such a climate, the Abant Platform organized [a Gulen Movement affiliated organization] a three-day-long meeting by Lake Abant over the weekend, bringing representatives from the Alevi and Sunni community. Personally, I learned a lot from the meeting which almost served as a channel for venting for Alevis.

Peacebuilders Conference – Call for Papers:

The Atlantic Institute, GA, is organizing a conference in partnership with the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel. The conference’s main focus is non-violent peacebuilding, it is titled “Fostering Dialogues in Education, Ethics, and Non Violent Peacebuilding: Global Social and Religious Movements Today.”

Turkish citizens in Arkansas face uncertain futures

Director of the Peace Keeping and Human Rights Program at Columbia University David Phillips says surveillance is possibly going on here in the US, even in Arkansas. “There are widespread reports that Turkey’s national intelligence agency is recruiting informants in order to identify so-called Gulenists or opponents of the regime.”

Atlantic Institute promotes peace through dialogue

It is well known that the institute is inspired by the peaceful teachings of Fethullah Gülen, whose decades-long commitment to education, altruistic community service, and interfaith harmony has inspired millions around the world. Gülen has reinterpreted aspects of Islamic tradition to meet the needs of contemporary Muslims.

Latest News

Turkish inmate jailed over alleged Gülen links dies of heart attack in prison

Message of Condemnation and Condolences for Mass Shooting at Bondi Beach, Sydney

Media executive Hidayet Karaca marks 11th year in prison over alleged links to Gülen movement

ECtHR faults Turkey for convictions of 2,420 applicants over Gülen links in follow-up to 2023 judgment

New Book Exposes Erdoğan’s “Civil Death Project” Targeting the Hizmet Movement

European Human Rights Treaty Faces Legal And Political Tests

ECtHR rejects Turkey’s appeal, clearing path for retrials in Gülen-linked cases

Erdoğan’s Civil Death Project’ : The ‘politicide’ spanning more than a decade

Fethullah Gülen’s Vision and the Purpose of Hizmet

In Case You Missed It

Turkey pledges to help rebuild Bosnia after floods

‘Mr. Gülen is to me simultaneously both incredibly modest and a visionary’

Probe launched into daily Taraf for attempting to cause chaos

History teacher gives birth to her third child in prison

2014: Towards an “Empire of Fear”

Turkish schools help to enhance trade relations with Africa

Turkish ambassador draws ire as she implies Gülen-affiliated schools in Macedonia raise terrorists

Copyright 2026 Hizmet News