The '27th Meeting of Religions' hosted by the Mersin Metropolitan Municipality Department of Culture and Social Affairs once again revealed the multicultural and tolerant structure of Mersin. As every year, the traditional event brought together different faith groups and conveyed messages of peace, brotherhood and coexistence. This program, which has no equivalent in Türkiye, took place on the 3rd day of Eid al-Adha at the Akbelen City Cemetery and attracted great interest with its large participation. Lina Nasif, the creator of the Meeting of Religions, was also remembered at the event.
0Wide Participation and Meaningful Messages
The program was attended by the Mayoral Advisor Bedrettin Gündeş representing the Mayor of Mersin Metropolitan Municipality Vahap Seçer, Mersin City Council President Alper Girgeç, MESKİ Personnel Inc. Board Chairman Ozan Varal, Mersin Metropolitan Municipality Culture and Social Affairs Department Coordinator Bengi İspir Özdülger, Mersin Metropolitan Municipality Cemeteries Department President Cihan Polat, representatives of the Muslim, Christian and Jewish worlds, representatives of civil society organizations and many Mersin residents. The program began with a video showing of the Religions Meeting held the previous year.
Mersin Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Advisor Bedrettin Gündeş, emphasized in his speech that every belief system aims to glorify peace, love, tolerance and human dignity. Gündeş said, “The Meeting of Religions is not only a tradition; it is also a life practice that reflects the spirit, identity and conscience of Mersin,” and expressed that this meeting is an effort to build a bridge not between religions but between hearts.
Mersin City Council President Alper Girgeç He said that this event, which reflects Mersin's peaceful and brotherly identity, is not only a tradition but also a call for peace and a message of humanity. Girgeç remembered Lina Nasif, who laid the foundations of the event and continued it, with gratitude, and said, "We are enriched with our differences in these lands. Our beliefs may be different, but our pains and joys are also common." He also stated that Akbelen City Cemetery is a concrete symbol of Mersin's multicultural and multi-faith structure.
Calls for Unity and Tolerance from Faith Representatives
In the program, a hymn recital was performed by the Mevlana Culture and Art Association and the Mersin Metropolitan Municipality Turkish Classical Music Group.
Mersin Provincial Mufti's Office Religious Officer Provincial Preacher Bayram Genç, Celebrating the Feast of Sacrifice, he emphasized that people in Mersin live in peace, prosperity, tranquility and tolerance. The young man prayed, saying, “I entrust all of humanity to our great creator, Allah, with the hope of meeting in a more just world.”
Cemevi Dedesi and Belief Board Chairman Erdoğan Sevin, expressed that the holiday is a bridge of love established between hearts, and that no one should look down on another, alienate another, and ignore the identity and faith of another. Sevin called on people to take as an example the love for humanity and tolerance of Khorasan and Anatolian saints such as Hacı Bektaş-ı Veli, Mevlana, and Yunus Emre.
Speaking after the church music recital Catholic Church Father Jawahar Jerry Cutinho“These holy lands where we live remind us that we may have come from different paths, our prayers may be in different languages, but we are one in the same great truth,” he said. Cutinho emphasized that tolerance in Mersin is not just an idea, but a living reality.
Father Ispir Coskun Teymur of Mersin Greek Orthodox Church congratulated Eid al-Adha and mentioned that the most fundamental thing that will ensure strong bonds between people is love. Teymur stated that the common message of all heavenly religions is love, peace and brotherhood and remembered the Great Leader Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and the precious martyrs with gratitude.
The 27th Meeting of Religions Festival Celebration Program ended with the reading of the Peace and Brotherhood Prayer and the reed flute recital by Mevlana Culture and Art Association Honorary President Ahmet Coşar. Guests were also served with products and lemonade.
