Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Balkan Ekrem İmamoğlumet with faith groups living in Istanbul at the iftar table. At the meeting held at the Haliç Shipyard, respectively; Religious official Fuat Yıldırım, Turkish Caferis Leader Selahattin Özgündüz, Nurtepe Cemevi Dede Zeynel Şahan, Syriac Orthodox Community Spiritual Leader Yusuf Çetin, Turkish Armenian Patriarch Sahak Maşalyan, Fener Greek Patriarch Bartholomeos and İmamoğlu made speeches. Religious people belonging to different beliefs; He expressed his goodwill wishes for Türkiye and world peace.
“A MANAGER HAS TO UNDERSTAND EVERYONE'S CONDITION AND LANGUAGE, AND KEEP EVERYONE EQUAL WITH HIMSELF”
İmamoğlu said, "Ramadan, the sultan of 11 months, is a very special and blessed month in every aspect," and used the following expressions in his speech:
“The first condition for fulfilling our responsibility to society is to love creation for the sake of the Creator. We should be able to see others the way we see ourselves. We must have the maturity to want the same for others as we want for ourselves. In particular, administrators who use public power and resources must act with this maturity. The manager is obliged to understand everyone's situation and language and consider everyone as one with himself. It should serve without discriminating anyone, and should be able to provide the necessary opportunities for everyone to enjoy their freedom of belief and worship comfortably. "A political atmosphere in which even iftar tables can be divided into 'ours and others' will harm both our faith and our society."
“THOSE WHO TRY TO CREATE HOSTILITY THROUGH BELIEFS…”
“Those who try to create hostilities based on beliefs and who are eager to create success for themselves in this way should know very well that; The path they follow is not right, it is not the path of God. It is not possible for God's path to be this way. We must get rid of and purify ourselves from the concept of arrogance and waste, which has spread even to iftar tables from time to time. Iftar tables; It is an expression of the richness of the heart that brings together everyone in a common feeling, regardless of their belief, origin or opinion. The power that rises from tables set with brotherhood, tolerance and cooperation will carry us to a happy and just life and a happy and just world. Another way is possible in Istanbul. It is possible to keep all the evil that exists in the world and all the bad things that we want to be away from this city. “We can achieve this.”
“WE CAN CREATE AN ISTANBUL AS AN EXAMPLE FOR THE WORLD”
“In this city, we can make possible freedom of all faiths, equal citizenship, and a city where every faith is welcomed equally while worshiping and providing services. In this city, we can bring our people as close to each other as possible, with an understanding of love and respect for each other, without discrimination, starting with service, ending with the street, and continuing with neighbourhood. This is in the genetics of this city. I strived to be a mayor who obliged myself to achieve this. In our next journey, I want to continue my service with determination to accept every person in this city as a human being and to serve them when our citizens and fellow townsmen deem it appropriate, but with the same understanding, with justice, with equal shares of every person in this city. “If we can achieve this and put forth our best efforts on this journey, we can create an Istanbul that is an example to the world.”
“ISTANBUL HAS TO BE AN EXAMPLE TO THE WORLD”
“Istanbul also has to set an example to the world with its history from past to present. This city is a city that unites people. Just like it unites the continents. The spiritual world of this city, the spiritual world of this city is very special. When this city adopts such an attitude, it has the power to end the negativities, war, and some attacks and hostilities that kill people around our city, especially in our country, and in our nearby geography. With this brotherhood, with this deep philosophy of this city, I greet you with my most sincere feelings, with this hope and determination, I hope that the holy month of Ramadan will fill our souls with love, patience and moderation, and I wish you all a blessed Ramadan.