Religious leaders gather at Beyoglu municipality iftar

Distinguished religious leaders in Turkey, along with politicians, artists, intellectuals, businesspeople, athletes and journalists, came together for a fast-breaking dinner (iftar) organized by the Beyoglu Municipality in Istanbul's Taksim Square on Tuesday night. Among the attendees were Ecumenical Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew I, Istanbul Governor Huseyin Avni Mutlu, Istanbul Mayor Kadir Topbas, Beyoglu Mayor Ahmet Misbah Demircan, Istanbul Chief Mufti Rahmi Yaran, World Ehl-i Beyt Foundation head Fermani Altun, Chief Rabbi of Turkey Rav Isak Haleva, Orthodox Archbishop Yusuf Cetin, Archbishop Aram Atesyan and Deputy Patriarch of the Turkish Syriac Catholic Church Yusuf Sag. Speaking to reporters, Demircan said that Beyoglu encompasses pluralist, different cultures, religions, languages and life styles.