Prayers sung together by Christians and Muslims in southern Turkey

MERSİN – Doğan News Agency

Leading religious figures from the Christian and Muslim communities in the southern province of Mersin have sung prayers together for all the deceased regardless of their religions in the Mersin City Cemetery.

Marking the first day of the Muslim Feast of Sacrifice on Sept. 24, the clergies sang prayers wishing for peace and clemency during the 17th annual event called “Religions Together” in the cemetery in Mersin, where a large number of people have been buried alongside each other regardless of their religions. 

Among those who attended the event were Mersin Orthodox Church spiritual leader Coşkun Teymur, Mersin Italian Catholic Church spiritual leader Roberto Ferrari, Italian Catholic Church priest Fransua Dondu, Mersin City Cemetery imams Mehmet Keskin and Muhammed Zeki Şentürk, Mersin Mayor Burhanettin Kocamaz, Republican People’s Party (CHP) Mersin deputy Hüseyin Çamak and a number of Mersin residents.


Noting the significance of the Feast of Sacrifice in Islam, Teymur said Mersin was a city like a mosaic, highlighting the coexistence of different cultures in the city.

“Every piece of this mosaic is special and unique. However, the beauty of the mosaic will stand out only when all of its pieces are combined. This cemetery is a good example to show this,” Teymur said.

Teymur also expressed his sorrow toward the security personnel killed in outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) attacks in Turkey’s east and southeast in recent months.

“Feasts are times we share affection and happiness with each other. But, we experience a sadness over our soldiers and police officers killed in eastern and southeastern Turkey,” Teymur said.

Kocamaz, Mersin’s mayor elected from the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), said every resident of Mersin had to respect each other, expressing his thanks to the clergies.