A second ‘Mourning Grief and Breking Fasting’ (Yas-ı Matem Oruç Açma) program was held by the Istanbul Governor's Office this year. The program, attended by Vice President Fuat Oktay, Istanbul Governor Ali Yerlikaya, Presidency Spokesperson İbrahim Kalın, district governors, representatives of non-governmental organizations, and many guests from the world of business, art and politics, was held in the garden of Istanbul Archeology Museums.
“KERBELA IS OUR COMMON HEARTACHE”
In his speech, Vice President Fuat Oktay drew attention to the pain experienced in Karbala and said, “The incident of Karbala, where our Prophet's grandson, Hussein, whom he kissed and smelled by saying 'my basil in the world', was martyred along with 72 people from the ‘Ehl-i Beyt’ (people of the house), took place this month. Karbala is the common heartache of us who believe in Allah Almighty and His Messenger and inscribe the love of Ahl al-Bayt in their hearts. In addition to the sadness, grief and mourning of this painful event, we should not forget the fact that His Holiness Hussein left a lesson to all humanity by sacrificing his life with his blessed blood.”
“NEITHER OUR PAIN IS SOOTHED, NOR OUR GRIEF IS OVER”
Addressing the participants in the program, Istanbul Governor Ali Yerlikaya drew attention to the day of Ashura in his speech and said, “There is the same sadness in our eyes, in our hearts and on our table. It has been 1342 years since Karbala, as heavy as lead in our hearts. Seasons have come and gone, years have passed. Neither our pain has subsided nor our mourning is over. The flowing time did not make us forget this pain, it did not alleviate.”