“Istanbul Apparel and Clothing Exporters’ Association (İHKİB) held its last joint iftar dinner with associations and foundations at Sheraton Hotel on June 16th, Friday, in collaboration with Laleli Industrialists and Businessmen Association (LASİAD). The iftar dinner, attended by the presidents and executives of associations, foundations, and Laleli traders, was also joined by the Mayor of Fatih Municipality, Mustafa Demir. LASİAD President Giyasettin Eyyüpkoca made the opening speech. Approximately 600 people participated in the night hosted by LASİAD management.
“For the Sake of Strengthening Our Unity, We Will Organize Future Iftars in the East and Southeast”
Eyyüpkoca stated, “We are experiencing one of the most beautiful scenes of Ramadan. For the last three years, as LASİAD, we have not been having iftar dinners in Istanbul. Last year, we organized a magnificent iftar dinner with 6,000 people in Ağrı, and this year, in Muş. I would like to thank İHKİB for hosting us in the iftar they organized. Every year during Ramadan, we will be in a city in the Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia regions. I want to make a call to all NGOs; please, let everyone go to a different place. For the sake of strengthening our unity, organize your future iftar dinners in a city in the East and Southeast.”
“We Struggled to Turn This Negative Atmosphere into a Positive One”
İHKİB President Hikmet Tanrıverdi said, “We are going through a difficult period in recent days. The terrorist attack at Atatürk Airport, the Reina nightclub attack on New Year’s Eve, and the July 15th coup attempt caused our businesses, especially those of firms working internationally like us, to lag behind. We struggled to turn this negative atmosphere into a positive one. No matter how much our exports have decreased, thank God, we are in good condition now. For this reason, we need to work even harder to contribute to our country and economy.”
“Fasting from dawn to dusk during Ramadan is not about going hungry; it’s about satisfying one’s hunger during iftar.”
Fatih Municipality Mayor Mustafa Demir, in his speech, stated, “I am delighted to be with you again on an evening of a traditional iftar. May Allah grant this pleasure of sharing to everyone. The great poet Necip Fazıl says, ‘If you knew the joy of sharing bread, you would understand that it is sweeter than the bread itself.’ Fasting from dawn to dusk during Ramadan is not about going hungry; it’s about satisfying one’s hunger during iftar. We have entered the last 10 days. May Allah allow us to experience the grace of Laylat al-Qadr, which is better than a thousand months, and which is hidden in the last 10 days, with its head full of mercy, its middle full of forgiveness, and its end free from the torment of hell. May we be among those who catch these days in the best way and observe them in the most beautiful way. I wish you an early celebration of your Ramadan holiday.”
