Konak Square overflows on the Night of Power

Tens of thousands of people from İzmir, we are in Konak Square. The “BRING YOUR PRAYER RUG AND COME” NIGHT OF POWER iftar and programme has begun, broadcast live by TRT AVAZ. Blessed be our night. Thank you, İzmir...... On behalf of civil society, I extend my gratitude to our new Governor and our Provincial Mufti, who took the initiative not to cancel the programme despite the fear of terrorism, and to our people who came in their thousands and filled Konak Square. Today is a day of unity and togetherness.

The story of the Night of Power

The first Night of Power event was held in Ramadan 2015, on the Night of Power, with magnificent attendance. The second, in 2016, was again held under the leadership of our Konyalılar Federation President Mr Mehmet Aydoğan, through the meticulous work of his valued team and with the contributions of the İzmir Provincial Mufti’s Office and İzmir Metropolitan Municipality, with an even more magnificent crowd than the year before: a congregation of around 15,000 people from İzmir who answered the invitation. Our Konyalılar Federation presidency, which strives on every platform to make its name known in the best way as the Konyalılar Federation and as İzmir’s civil society organisations, once again enjoys the happiness of leading the way in firsts and shares it with us, above all with our fellow townspeople from Konya, and with our brothers and sisters in İzmir and all the people of our region. When the Konyalılar Federation presidency is mentioned, what comes to mind is Mehmet Aydoğan, our dear and highly respected fellow townsman, President of our federation and head of İzmir’s civil society organisations, who represents a very large community with pride and honour. Although we live in İzmir, our roots and our word are from Konya; while we take pride in living in İzmir, with the honour of being from Konya and as the grandchildren of Rumi, we strive to give direction and shape to our future. Konya brings to mind love, respect, tolerance, Rumi and his valued people and descendants.

The Night of Power event took on a special meaning with Ottoman macun and sherbet served to our guests, recalling the Ramadans of old. It continued with recitations from the Holy Qur’an and hymns, adding to its spiritual richness, and with talks on the meaning and importance of the Night of Power by the esteemed theologians and officials of the İzmir Provincial Mufti’s Office. The event was broadcast live around the world on TRT Avrasya and, at the same time, live across Türkiye on our local channel Kanal 35, presented by our dear brother Murat...