Prof. Mehmet Görmez embraces with kinsmen on Eid
Former President of Religious Affairs of Türkiye Prof. Dr. Mehmet Görmez visited Xanthi within the framework of his visit to Western Thrace. Prof. Görmez spoke at the conference organised by the Mufti's Office of Xanthi on Friday, 15 June. Many people attended the conference organised at the Xanthi Branch of the Western Thrace Minority University Graduates Association.
The event started with the speech of Mustafa Trampa, Mufti of Xanthi. In his speech, Mufti Trampa thanked Mehmet Görmez, the former head of religious affairs, for his visit.
Then the former President of Religious Affairs of Turkey Prof. Dr. Mehmet Görmez took the floor. Stating that he came to Western Thrace for the fourth time, Görmez said that the people of the region attach great importance to their values and this makes them happy.
Drawing attention to the fact that one out of every three Muslims living in the world lives as a minority, Görmez noted that Islamic civilisation does not express the minorities living within itself in numbers and gives non-Muslims the definition of nation.
Referring to the atrocities in Palestine, Görmez said, "The biggest genocide in history is taking place in Palestine. What is going on here is the continuation of the war against the civilisation of the Prophet Abraham."
Speaking about the concept of identity in his speech, Prof. Görmez said: "Identity leads us to civilisation. The issue of identity stands on two pillars. One is religion and one is language. You explain religion with a language. You explain it using language. Those who lose their religion lose their language, those who lose their language lose their culture. Because language is the home of culture."
The conference where Mehmet Görmez was the speaker was also watched by İbrahim Şerif, President of the Consultative Board of the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace and Mufti of Komotini, Hüseyin Baltacı, President of the Western Thrace Minority University Graduates Association and Ozan Ahmetoğlu, President of the Xanthi Turkish Union.
Mehmet Görmez also made longing with the religious officials from Xanthi who came to watch his conference and who were his students when he was working at the university in Ankara.
After the conference Prof. Görmez visited the villages of the Balkan Branch of Xanthi with the organisation of the Mufti's Office of Xanthi. Mustafa Trampa, Mufti of Xanthi accompanied Prof. Görmez during his village visits. Firstly, Mehmet Gormez went to Ketenlik village and chatted with the cognates. Having performed the evening prayer at Ketenlik Yukarımahalle Mosque, Görmez and his entourage then went to Şahin. Here, Görmez was welcomed by the cognates and had the opportunity to meet and chat with the people. Görmez performed Isha prayer together with the cognates in Şahin.
Prof. Mehmet Görmez attended the Eid prayer at Asağımahalle Çınar Mosque in Xanthi on Sunday, 16 June, gave a sermon before the Eid prayer and led the Eid prayer. Afterwards, Görmez visited the Mufti's Office of Xanthi. Mehmet Görmez, who travelled to Western Thrace with his wife, left the region on the first day of Eid and returned to Türkiye.
