Istanbul governor meets with religious leaders

ISTANBUL

AA photo

Istanbul Governor Vasip Şahin has met with leading figures from the three main religions in the metropolis to obtain information on the activities of Turkey’s Jewish, Christian and Muslim communities, the state-run Anadolu Agency has reported.

The meeting was held in the Istanbul Governor’s Office late March 1 as part of a series of meetings Şahin has been holding to engage more in the activities of civil society organizations and advocate groups.

Among those who participated in the meeting were Armenian Patriarch and Archbishop Aram Ateşyan, Fener Rum Patriarch Dimitri Bartholomeos, Keldani Catholic Community Spiritual Leader François Yakan, Turkish Assyrian Orthodox Metropolitan Bishop Yusuf Çetin, Turkish Jewish Community Chief Rabbi İshak Haleva, Syrian Catholic Church Patriarchal Vicar Yusuf Sağ and Istanbul Mufti Rahmi Yaran.

Underscoring that he had been very glad for the meeting, Şahin told the leaders that Istanbul had always been an archaic city embracing different religions and also that all religious communities were living in peace in what he described as a city of harmony and fellowship.    

The governor had previously held a meeting with museum administration officials, theology experts and representatives from non-governmental organizations in Istanbul.