Traditional iftar gathering brings community together in Çilingir, Western Thrace

The event, held on Tuesday, February 24, in the village square of Çilingir — a neighborhood under the jurisdiction of Sofulu Municipality — drew significant participation from community members and local representatives.

Among the attendees were Deputy Consuls Ali Tosun and Yunus Boz from the Consulate General of the Republic of Türkiye in Gümülcine, as well as İbrahim Şerif. Mehmet Bostancı, Vice President of the Friendship Equality Peace Party (FEP Party) and headman of Küçük Derbent, also attended, alongside local administrators and representatives of various institutions and civil society organizations.

The iftar prayer was delivered by Nusrettin Öztürk, a religious official affiliated with the Diyanet İşleri Başkanlığı, following the call to prayer at sunset.

In his address, Mufti İbrahim Şerif expressed gratitude to the residents for their invitation and emphasized the importance of unity and togetherness during Ramadan. He also thanked officials from the Turkish Consulate General in Komotini for their participation.

Deputy Consul Ali Tosun began his remarks by conveying greetings from Aykut Ünal. He extended his appreciation to those who contributed to organizing the event and expressed his hopes that the prayers offered during the gathering would be accepted. Tosun also congratulated attendees on the occasion of Ramadan.

Following the speeches, participants performed the evening prayer collectively. The program concluded with informal conversations over coffee, further strengthening bonds within the community.

The annual iftar gathering once again underscored the enduring traditions and communal values that define Ramadan observances in Western Thrace.