NEWS SCAN for Turkey – Oct 15th, 2013
Down below you will find a summary of topics from major Turkish papers and internet sites
Turkey’s Muslims welcome Eid al-Adha
Muslims across Turkey on Tuesday welcomed the four-day Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice) with millions of people paying visits to loved ones and many others slaughtering animals as a reminder of the prophet Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son Ishmael to God as an act of obedience and submission.
Eid al-Adha is Arabic for Feast of the Sacrifice (in Turkish, Kurban Bayramı) and is one of two holidays on the Islamic calendar, starting on the 10th day of Dhul Hijjah each year.
For many, Eid al-Adha holiday began at the mosques for the special Eid prayer that takes place after sunrise. Following this, animals were slaughtered. A section of the meat is distributed to the poor along with other charitable donations, as per Islamic tradition. While many visited their families on this special occasion, many others prefer taking vacations in popular tourist destinations.
TODAYSZAMAN.COM
Turkey in its own ‘shutdown’ for Eid despite hectic agenda
Much of Turkey, including the government, has put up its feet for the nine-day Eid holiday, despite many items being in the inbox. Nearly all senior Turkish officials have waved goodbye to the political stage for the Eid al-Adha, or Feast of Sacrifice, holiday.
It was a Monday yesterday, but not for senior Turkish officials, as nearly all of them waved goodbye to the political stage for the week long holiday of Eid al-Adha, or Feast of Sacrifice, for religiously motivated political reasons.
HURRIYETDAILYNEWS.COM
Turkish president calls for ‘respect for differences’ in Eid message
President Abdullah Gül has called for mutual understanding and respect for differences in society in a message released to mark Eid al-Adha, known as Kurban Bayramı in Turkish.
“We can preserve our unity only through respecting our differences and by showing sympathy towards each other, which is the key tool to lift Turkey to a more prosperous level,” Gül said in his message.
“I hope the best for our country on this feast of Eid al-Adha and send my greetings to all Islamic countries, wishing that this feast will put an end to violence all over the world, in our neighboring territories especially,” Gül added.
TODAY’S ZAMAN
Turkish Leaders issue messages to greet Eid al-Adha of citizens
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu also have issued messages to mark Eid al-Adha, offering their holiday greetings to people in Turkey and Islamic communities.
Erdoğan offered his greetings in a message wishing a peaceful Eid al-Adha to the Islamic world. In his message he said: “There is the soul of peace within this geography. We all share a fate, share a faith. Thank God, progressing all together, with the soul of unity, we managed to get over all the adverse conditions we went through as a community with many trying to ruin the sense of unity within our nation.”
Kılıçdaroğlu said: “Eid feasts mean the spirit of peace circulating among people. I wish the unity in Turkey is never spoilt and we live together in peace like brothers embracing one another.”
TANAP to bring $4 billion to Turkey annually
The Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline Project (TANAP), which is planned to transfer the Caspian natural gas to Europe via Turkey, is expected to bring $4 billion to Turkey annually. Besides, consumers will have access to less expensive natural gas as the gas price is expected to fall with the project. Speaking on the project at a press conference, Caspian Strategy Institute (HASEN) Chairman of Academics & Research Bulent Aras said that TANAP would considerably decrease Turkey’s dependency on energy and assume a key role in transferring the Caspian and Middle Eastern gas to Europe and ensuring the security of energy supply.
DUNYA.COM
PKK leader Öcalan says he is still hopeful of Turkey peace deal
The outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Öcalan said Monday that he was still hopeful about a peace deal with the Turkish state, but argued that Ankara needed to shift the process into a new gear.
“The process that we started last year has great meaning,” Öcalan said in a statement relayed by Peace and Democracy (BDP) lawmakers who visited him in prison.
“I still have hope for this process,” he said, warning however that “meaningful and result-oriented negotiations” were urgently needed to avoid a collapse of efforts to end the three-decade clash that has left more than 40,000 dead.
HURRIYET.COM.TR
15.10.2013
compiled by Editor BTT,
We do not verify above stories neither do we vouch for their accuracy.
