Hatim Ceremony celebrated with enthusiasm in Kozlukebir Village

A meaningful Hatim ceremony took place in Kozlukebir, a village in the Rodopi province of Western Thrace, on Sunday, May 4, 2025. The event was held to honor students who had completed their journey of learning the Quran.

The Kozlukebir Quran Course, affiliated with the Gümülcine (Komotini) Religious Affairs Directorate, hosted 12 students who completed their study of the Quran. The ceremony was held at the village mosque, where 10 girls and 2 boys, under the guidance of Quran instructors Mehmet Haseki and İbrahim Yusuf, celebrated the joy of finishing the Quran.

The event began with a speech by religious official Mehmet Haseki, who highlighted the significance of the day. With contributions from the parents and benefactors, the ceremony featured Quran recitations, as well as hymns, poetry, and prayers by the students, creating a spiritually uplifting atmosphere for the audience. The concluding Hatim prayer was jointly performed by students Elif İsmail and Ferişte Ahmet.

Attending the ceremony, Kozlukebir Mayor Erdem Hüseyin congratulated the students and presented them with gifts. Gümülcine Mufti İbrahim Şerif and Mufti Assistant Fehim Ahmet were also present, where they awarded the students with certificates of achievement.

In his speech, Mufti Şerif expressed his satisfaction with the students' commitment to the Quran and praised the support of their families and religious instructors. He also called on parents to consider directing their children to Imam Hatip High Schools. Furthermore, he conveyed the greetings of Turkey’s Consul General in Gümülcine, Aykut Ünal, who was unable to attend.

The ceremony concluded in a meaningful and heartfelt atmosphere, reinforcing a sense of unity and togetherness among the community members.

Among the distinguished guests were Mufti İbrahim Şerif, Mufti Assistant Fehim Ahmet, former Rodopi Member of Parliament Ahmet Hacıosman, Eastern Macedonia and Thrace Deputy President Rıdvan Molla İse, Kozlukebir Mayor Erdem Hüseyin, Vice President Özkan Yusuf, Kozlukebir Region Vice President Sinan Çöl, Mehrikoz Regions Vice President Osman Hoca Osman, Democratic Power List Leader Rıdvan Ahmet, Former Kozlukebir Mayor Halit Mehmet, Yassıköy Mayor Caner İmam, Yassıköy Vice President Mehmet Arif, Western Thrace Imam Hatip High School Alumni Association President Mehmet Emin Ahmet, Western Mosque Religious Officials Association President Erol Yoluç, and various invited members of the community.