Diyanet head meets Western Thrace Muslims Turks during Ramadan visit
Prof. Dr. Safi Arpaguş, head of the Presidency of Religious Affairs, visited İskeçe as part of a series of Ramadan events in Western Thrace, emphasizing messages of unity and solidarity.
Arpaguş and his delegation took part in several religious and community gatherings reflecting the spiritual atmosphere of the holy month of Ramadan.
The visit began at the Mufti Office of İskeçe, where Arpaguş was welcomed by Mustafa Trampa, who also serves as chairman of the Western Thrace Turkish Minority Advisory Board, along with local religious officials.
Following the visit, the delegation traveled to the village of Şahin, where they participated in afternoon prayers, Qur’an recitation and a community discussion focusing on the spiritual significance of Ramadan and the importance of unity and social solidarity.
Warm welcome in Şahin
Arpaguş and his delegation were warmly welcomed in Şahin, often described as a central hub of the Turkish Muslim community in Western Thrace. Residents greeted the visitors with traditional Ramadan chants and a symbolic shower of rose petals, reflecting the community’s enthusiasm and hospitality.
Large iftar gathering
Later in the evening, a large iftar dinner was held at the Royal Palace event hall in the İskeçe regional area, bringing together religious officials, teachers and members of mosque management boards.
The gathering was attended by local mayors, members of parliament, regional representatives, association leaders and numerous community figures from across Western Thrace. Among those present were İbrahim Şerif and Mustafa Bodur.
Also attending the event were Aykut Ünal and his wife İlayda Ünal, Işık Sadık Ahmet, Çiğdem Asafoğlu, MPs Burhan Baran, Hüseyin Zeybek, and Özgür Ferhat, along with local officials and members of the Turkish minority community.
The program began with a recitation from the Qur’an by Bünyamin Topçuoğlu, followed by welcoming remarks moderated by local religious official Hasan Hacıhasanoğlu.
Opening the speeches, Mufti Mustafa Trampa highlighted the spiritual blessings of Ramadan and stressed the importance of preserving unity within the Western Thrace Turkish community.
In his remarks, Turkish Consul General Aykut Ünal emphasized the importance of solidarity within the community, noting that Ramadan strengthens the values of brotherhood and sharing. “There is unity and solidarity here,” he said, adding that those who preserve these values deserve special recognition.
Messages of unity and solidarity
Addressing the gathering, Diyanet President Safi Arpaguş conveyed greetings from Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and spoke about the spiritual significance of Ramadan.
He emphasized the importance of strengthening unity and solidarity among Muslims, praying that the holy month—“whose beginning is mercy, middle is forgiveness and end is salvation”—would bring blessings and preserve faith and brotherhood for generations to come.
The iftar meal began with the call to prayer recited by Hadi Duran, while the closing prayer was delivered by Mufti İbrahim Şerif.
Evening prayers and community meetings
Following the iftar, Arpaguş and his delegation traveled to Karaçanlar to perform evening prayers with members of the local community.
Later, a special Ramadan program took place at Çınar Mosque, including night prayers and a traditional Enderun-style tarawih prayer attended by a large number of worshippers.
After the prayers, Arpaguş met with members of the Western Thrace Turkish community and expressed his satisfaction at visiting the region.
The visit concluded with a meeting at the Turkish Union of İskeçe, where Arpaguş and community representatives exchanged views on issues facing the Western Thrace Turkish minority and discussed future prospects.
The Ramadan events ended with strong messages of unity and solidarity from the community.
