Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan observed the Muslim festival of Eid-al Adha, or the Feast of Sacrifice, on Tuesday.
“I pray that Eid al-Adha blesses our families, our nation, the Islamic world, and all of humanity.”
“Holidays are blessed days when we, as a nation, remember our unity and eternal brotherhood,” Erdogan said in a video greeting.
Erdogan noted that Eid al-Adha is a time when the spirit of solidarity and sharing is at its peak.
“I believe that Eid al-Adha will further strengthen the atmosphere of brotherhood among our citizens during these months when our hearts are burning due to the Feb. 6 earthquakes,” he continued.
Most Muslim-majority countries, including Turkey, will commemorate the four-day holiday beginning on Wednesday.
The event commemorates the Prophet Ibrahim, or Abraham’s, willingness to sacrifice his son at the order of God, prior to the last-minute divine substitute of a ram.
In honour of this intervention, Muslims sacrifice animals and distribute the flesh to the impoverished and their family.