All colors of Diyarbakir came together over Iftar


Date posted: July 29, 2013

İSMAİL AVCI -ORHAN KARANFİL – DIYARBAKIR

Diyarbakir Entrepreneurial Businessmen Association’s (DIGIAD) “Annual Friendship Iftar” brought together all walks of life in Diyarbakir, Turkey.

More than one thousand opinion makers, civil society leaders, businessmen, and politicians broke fast together. Minister of Food, Agriculture and Livestock Mr. Mehdi Eker, Minister of Transport, Maritime and Communications Mr. Binali Yıldırım, Minister of Finance Mr. Mehmet Şimşek, Deputy President of Journalists and Writers Foundation Mr. Cemal Uşak, representatives from AK Party and BDP, Muslim religious leaders and scholars, Syriac Christians, and NGO presidents were among the attendees at the iftar organized by DIGIAD.

DIGIAD’s president Alaaddin Korkutata in his speech underlined that there is a peaceful atmosphere because of the “Settlement Process,” which was initiated by PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan by taking enormous risk; the process has also given hope to people. Mr. Korkutata said, “Warplanes were flying over our Iftar last year; There have been no significant incidents recently except for few provocative ones.”

Minister of Food, Agriculture and Livestock Mr. Mehdi Eker praised in his speech that people from all walks life in Diyarbakir are represented at the Iftar. He said Turkey’s regime had problems with his own people. The state had divided its people into races, colors and ethnicities, which created problems. “We have made important progress for the solution in the last seven months despite some provocations, we wish that the settlement process will end with peace,” he added.

Minister of Finance Mr. Mehmet Şimşek pointed to the fact that Turkey has been in a process of change and transformation, which was achieved through political stability. Peace and tranquility came to the region and an investment burst is expected. Mr. Şimşek further said, “What have been accomplished in the last two years are [bringing] peace and [establishing] trust in the region. The region will develop, there will be a reverse migration. We must attract young people here from Western Turkey. This may seem a dream but it will come true.”

Disclaimer: The original article is in Turkish. Slight deviations from the original meaning may have occurred due to the difficulties in translating phrases and idioms. PII volunteers translated the article.

Source: Zaman Newspaper , July 27, 2013


Related News

Der Spiegel: Turkish consulate officials involved in spying activities not only in Germany

“The espionage agents around the Turkish religious authorities go beyond Germany,” the article read adding that “not only were the names of persons transmitted” but also activities by the Gülen movement-affiliated schools, day-care centers, cultural and student associations reported to Turkey.

Retired public servant under custody for distributing donations to post-coup victims

M.S. was rounded up while he was withdrawing the money allegedly transferred from Canada-based Gulen followers to his account, at a bank branch in Izmir’s Bergama district. According to Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency, the funds were raised to support post-coup prisoners and those under investigation as well as the people dismissed as part of the government crackdown and their families.

Erdoğan and AK Party deputies split over hate speech against Hizmet

Apparently, not every Justice and Development Party (AK Party) member and minister is on board with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s hateful and insulting rhetoric against the Hizmet movement and Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen and his followers.

Pro-gov’t dailies call Japanese foundation ‘parallel’ to denigrate award for Gülen

Several pro-government dailies have run stories with far-fetched allegations that a prestigious peace award was presented to Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen thanks to the sponsorship of a “parallel” — a defamatory term invented by the ruling party to describe Gülen and his sympathizers — foundation, even though the organization was founded in Japan.

Political Activism for Peaceful Coexistence in Rumi and Gulen

In Gulen’s view -as strongly emphasized by Rumi more than seven centuries ago- action is an inseparable aspect of tasawwuf, and Muslims should be actively involved in the community, share their experience with others, strive to help others and bring peace to the global village.

Hizmet Symposium: Academics Foster Peacebuilding Advocacy

Hizmet, or service, is one of the largest social movements in the world. The Rumi Forum organized an international symposium called the “Hizmet Movement and Peacebuilding for Global Cases” at the National Press Club Ballroom in Washington D.C. Academics and scientists from more than 20 countries presented topics covering the impact of Hizmet Movement to […]

Latest News

Fethullah Gulen – man of education, peace and dialogue – passes away

Fethullah Gülen’s Condolence Message for South African Human Rights Defender Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Hizmet Movement Declares Core Values with Unified Voice

Ankara systematically tortures supporters of Gülen movement, Kurds, Turkey Tribunal rapporteurs say

Erdogan possessed by Pharaoh, Herod, Hitler spirits?

Devious Use of International Organizations to Persecute Dissidents Abroad: The Erdogan Case

A “Controlled Coup”: Erdogan’s Contribution to the Autocrats’ Playbook

Why is Turkey’s Erdogan persecuting the Gulen movement?

Purge-victim man sent back to prison over Gulen links despite stage 4 cancer diagnosis

In Case You Missed It

More evidence Erdogan behind coup

Int’l symposium in Washington D.C. to discuss Hizmet’s contribution to world peace

Grondahl: Turkish community strong in wake of threats from back home

Individuals can force change

Cihan TV network celebrates 10th birthday

Parents dream of their children being admitted to Turkish schools in Senegal

A rising profile for Turkish Cultural Center Vermont

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News