Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, issued a message on the occasion of Easter.
According to the ECO Cultural Institute, quoting Anadolu News Agency, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan congratulated all Christian compatriots and followers of the religion on Easter.
The message reads: “I congratulate with my sincerest feelings our Christian citizens of various churches and groups on Easter, one of their most important feasts.
As the members of a deep-rooted civilization which views differences as a richness and which is built upon mutual respect and affection, we deem it of utmost importance that all our citizens can freely practice their religions, cultures and traditions regardless of their faith, denomination and ethnicity.
This culture of coexistence rising in the Anatolian lands forges today, as it did in the past, the essence of our peace and fraternity while also serving as our strongest asset that will take us to future.
We, as the state, continue to mobilize all our means to ensure that all our citizens, including the Christian ones, with whom we have shared joy and grief throughout centuries, can freely practice their religion.
I hope that the peaceful coexistence of various religions and communities for centuries in these lands and our efforts aimed at ensuring that each citizen of ours can freely practice his/her religion set an example for the entire world.
While the world is going through difficult times due to the COVID-19 pandemic, our Christian citizens will unfortunately not be able to gather for Easter at their churches because of the measures taken. However, we believe that our country will overcome this period with the smallest effect possible thanks to the meticulous implementation of the measures and that life will return to normal for us all as soon as possible.
On the occasion of Easter, I extend my heartfelt greetings and wish well-being to all Christians, particularly our Christian citizens.”