Minister Ersoy: 3 Million Iftar Meals to be Served at Foundation Gatherings
Ankara, February 25 – Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy announced that approximately 3 million iftar meals will be served to citizens during foundation iftar gatherings. He also stated that iftar meals would be provided in 13 cities across 6 countries abroad, reaching 12,420 individuals daily. Minister Ersoy made these remarks at the ‘Foundation Presidents Iftar Meeting’ held at the General Directorate of Foundations in Ankara.
Emphasis on Social Solidarity and Heritage
Minister Ersoy, alongside General Director of Foundations Sinan Aksu and foundation presidents, attended the iftar program. The event included a recitation from the Quran and a presentation on the restoration work carried out by the General Directorate of Foundations. In his speech before the iftar, Minister Ersoy emphasized the importance of the foundation tradition in fostering social solidarity.
“Our gathering here today with representatives of over 600 foundations operating in our country is not merely an iftar program. This meeting is also the continuation of a civilization heritage that our ancestors have preserved for centuries,” said Minister Ersoy. He highlighted that Anatolia, from the Seljuks to the Ottomans and the Republic, has been a cradle of foundation civilization, embodying goodness, compassion, and solidarity.
“In this ancient civilization basin, foundations are not just institutions, but a way of life. They represent sharing, caring, preserving, and leaving a legacy for future generations. We are the custodians of the deep-rooted foundation tradition extending from the Seljuks to the Ottomans and our Republic. This legacy is not only stone buildings, inns, baths, and mosques; it is also the spirit of goodness, compassion, and solidarity,” he added.
Extensive Iftar Programs in Turkey and Abroad
Minister Ersoy recalled that the General Directorate of Foundations organized iftar tables in 81 provinces last year. “During the Foundation Iftar Gatherings, we shared meals with approximately 100,000 citizens daily, serving around 3 million iftar meals. We did not stop there; we amplified the joy of Ramadan with heartwarming events, programs for children, and gifts,” he stated.
He further noted that this tradition of goodwill extended beyond Turkey’s borders. “We set up iftar tables in our spiritual geography stretching from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus to Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo. This year, we are again present in 81 provinces; we will reach approximately 100,000 citizens daily, serving about 3 million iftar meals.”
Internationally, Minister Ersoy confirmed, “Abroad, we will gather at iftar tables with a total of 12,420 of our brothers and sisters every day in 15 different locations across 13 cities in 6 countries, including the TRNC, Bosnia, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Bulgaria, and Palestine. In Gaza, we will continue to stand by our oppressed and victimized Palestinian brothers and sisters with a daily iftar organization for 10,000 people.” He also mentioned that other foundations, in addition to the General Directorate of Foundations, are providing iftar meals in Gaza, emphasizing that the Turkish nation has never left and will never leave its Gazan brothers alone.
Furthermore, the Minister highlighted significant humanitarian aid efforts: “We provided support to tens of thousands of families with dry food aid abroad. As part of Eid clothing assistance, we endeavored to bring smiles to the faces of over 40,000 orphaned and needy children in 2025. This year, we will witness the joy of Eid clothing for over 50,000 children.”
Selimiye Mosque Undergoes Comprehensive Restoration
Minister Ersoy also provided information on the restoration of the Selimiye Mosque, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. “The Selimiye Mosque, a pinnacle of 16th-century Ottoman architecture, is not only a shared heritage of our nation but of humanity. This unique mosque, listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, has undergone one of the most comprehensive restoration processes ever undertaken by our General Directorate of Foundations.”
He elaborated on the restoration work: “Under the guidance of our scientific boards, and with a completely holistic approach, the strengthening and injection applications in the main dome have been completed, lead coverings have been renewed, and cementitious interventions made over time that were not in line with the original have been removed. Our minarets, each approximately 85 meters high, have undergone strengthening and maintenance processes. In the interior, the sections of 264 plaster window grilles that had been altered with non-original interventions in the past have been restored to their original form with a stainless steel structure and bottle-bottom glass system.”
Minister Ersoy underscored the significance of the new carpet: “One of the most meaningful touches of the restoration has been the carpet. Taking the original carpet in the Istanbul Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts as a reference, a new carpet of approximately 3,000 square meters was woven in the Demirci district of Manisa, using 100 percent local wool, with a knot density of 729,000 knots per square meter. This carpet, with its tone-on-tone technique of Edirne red, carries the aesthetic understanding of our ancestors to the present day.”
He concluded by stating, “We did not completely close the Selimiye Mosque for worship during the restoration process, and on February 18th, we reunited it with our congregation at full capacity after the afternoon prayer. We plan to hold the official opening, including tile cleaning and landscaping, under the auspices of our esteemed President, God willing. While we set up iftar tables in our spiritual geography, we are also reviving the legacy of our ancestors by adhering to its original form.”
