Turkish deputy demands Ghadir Khumm to be religious holiday

ISTANBUL – Hürriyet Daily News

The main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) Mersin deputy Aytuğ Atıcı issued a bill to the Parliament yesterday for the Alawite’s Ghadir Khumm day to be recognized as a religious holiday, as it will be celebrated in Ankara on Nov. 3 for the first time.

Atıcı demanded this day to be recognized as a religious holiday by the Turkish Parliament in his draft. Meanwhile, Pir Sultan Abdal Culture Association’s Keçiören branch is set to make an organization on Nov. 3 in the Nazım Congress and Art Center in Ankara’s Yenimahalle to commemorate Ghadir Khumm day. The association will hold a Semah ceremony and conferences as part of the organization which will be celebrated for the first time.

The incident, widely known as the Hadith of the pond of Khumm, is named after the area it took place, Ghadir Al-Khumm. Alawaites believe the Prophet of Islam Muhammad gave one of his hadiths at Ghadir Al-Khumm near the city of al-Juhfah, in present day Saudi Arabia in which he appointed Ali ibn Abi Talib as his heir and successor.

Participants from several cities in Turkey and from Iran will attend the ceremonies.