Erdogan attends fast-breaking dinner marking Ashura

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday attended a fast-breaking dinner in Istanbul marking the day of Ashura and mourning the martyrdom of 72 people, including Husain, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, at the Battle of Karbala 1,369 years ago. The day of Ashura coincides with the 12th day of the Islamic calendar's month of Muharram. In the first 12 days of this month, Alevis fast to commemorate the massacre of Husain and his relatives. Speaking at the dinner, Erdogan said that attempts to undermine the Turkish people's unity would never succeed. He said everyone living in Turkey can define their identity and faith freely as equal citizens of a secular, democratic country under the rule of law, and touched on government efforts to improve the rights of Turkish Alevis. Erdogan also talked about the government's recent decree restoring the citizenship of renowned Turkish poet Nazim Hikmet, saying that he was very happy with this decision. He also said that undemocratic restrictions on free expression should be eliminated. In related news, the state-run TRT 1 channel made its main daily news broadcast from a Cemevi (Alevi house of worship) in Istanbul. Other ceremonies marking the day were held across Turkey and the world.