CYPRUS: Pilgrimage to Hala Sultan Tekke to mark Eid Al Adha

Up to one thousand Turkish Cypriots from the north will take part in a special pilgrimage to Hala Sultan Tekke at 1pm on Wednesday. The pilgrimage marks the Muslim feast of Eid Al Adha or Kurban Bayram and is taking place at the request of Archbishop Chrysostomos II on behalf of the Mufti of Cyprus Prof. Dr Talip Atalay.

The pilgrimage is the fourth since 2014, when for the first time in eight years Turkish Cypriot pilgrims were allowed to visit Hala Sultan Tekke to mark Eid Al Fitr or Ramzan Bayram, with the support of Archbishop Chrysostomos II and the agreement of the President Nicos Anastasiades and the former Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu.
Similar to the last three occasions, this special pilgrimage is being organised by the office of the Mufti of Cyprus and facilitated by UNFICYP in cooperation with the Office of the Religious Track of the Cyprus Peace Process under the Auspices of the Embassy of Sweden.
A representative of Greek Orthodox Church of Cyprus and the Executive Coordinator of Office of the Religious Track will be present to reiterate the well wishes of Archbishop Chrysostomos II, Armenian Archbishop Nareg, Archbishop Soueif of the Maronites and Rev Kraj on the occasion of Kurban Bayram.