EVENTS..

Over the past year a number of vistits have taken place to Suleymaniye, the most exciting of the visitors was the Prince of Wales Prince Charles, who visited the complex as an official visit. Apart from Prince Charles, there were visits by famous people, whether them being politicians, actors, religious people or visits by local education authorities. The visits were either official or to be a part of a seminar which was to take place, or for educational purposes or simply for those who wondered what Suleymaniye was all about.

When ever possible Suleymaniye likes to hold events in the complex, events being either seminars, fairs, circumcising ceremonies or religious ceremonies. In this section of Suleymaniye.org you will be notified of the events which are to take place or of events which have taken place.

PRINCE CHARLES VISIT
VISIT DATE - 28TH SEPTEMBER 2001

"More then anything i wanted to come here to show how much I minded and cared for about the Islamic community in this country, particulary at a time when it is so difficult for everyone. And also to show above all my support for all theose people of whatever faith who utterly reject violance. And at the same time, to show my support for those who believe more then anything else in the over whelming importance of tolerance, compassion and understanding. And i hope we can get that message accross".

On Friday 28th September at the end of prayers, the Prince of Wales Prince Charles paid an officail visit to Suleymaniye. The visit came after the terrorist attacks in the United States of America, it was to extend the hand of friendship to British Muslims and people of all faiths who reject violance. To highlight the peaceful nature of Islam, Prince Charles met staff and students in an Islamic education class room.

Prince Charles was shown around the Suleymaniye Complex, while a large number of people gathered outside to greet the prince.

Read more about Prince's visit on BBC


CIRCUMCISE CEREMONY
EVENT TOOK PLACE 2002
 
The step from childhood into manhood is a big step for a Muslim boy. The leap does not take place from the boy growing to the age where he is considered an adult but takes place at a very early age. This is due to a small and simple operation.

In the Turkish culture being circumcised is a big event, it is even bigger then a marriage ceremony. Muslim boys are required by Islamic law to go through the process of having their foreskin "snipped" off for hygiene reasons and the event takes place with a big ceremony.

One of the services which Suleymaniye complex provides is a circumcision ceremony, the event takes place once a year in the Suleymaniye complex. Last month Suleymaniye organised one of these ceremonies and it was held in the complex, the ceremony was celebrated in a traditional Islamic manner with recitations of the Qur'an, along with Mevlids and Ilahi. After the recitation of the Qur'an the guests went to the dinning hall of the complex where a feast was given. During the feast the president of the Trust Ilhami Yumak gave a speech in which he thanked the guests and the host for such an event. He also thanked them for allowing the ceremony to take place in Suleymaniye in an Islamic manner..


BOOK FAIR
DATE - 12-22 JULY 2002
 
"Read, read in the name of the lord who created, created man from a single clot of blood" the first verse of the Qur'an sent down to the prophet was Iqra (read). It stresses the importance of reading and learning.

The best source of knowledge is held in books of all kinds, and to acquire the information held in the books is to read. Every year Suleymaniye holds fairs of all kinds, this year it was a book fair. There was books of all natures, whether being historical book, religious book, story books for children or everyday entertainment books. Apart from books you could also obtain CD's and cassettes.

Apart from the collection of books held in the fair there was also Multivision shows.

To obtain or view the books which were held in the book fair, a list can be obtained from the complex or a visit to the library in the Suleymaniye mosque might be a better idea!


CUNEYT ARKIN VISIT
VISIT DATE - 20TH MAY 2001
 
On 29th may 2001 at 6pm till 8pm Suleymaniye had yet anouther famous face, Cuneyt Arkin. The occasion of the visit was to be a part of the seminar which was held by the UK Turkish Islamic Culture Youth Association. The seminar was based on "anti drugs and alcohole" in which speakers included Peter Jordon from Shoreditch Police, Teresa Rooney Kaymakci from Kingston University, Dr Teoman Sirri and the leader of Hackney Council Saleem Siddiqi.

Hundreds of people turned out at the seminar in which Cuneyt Arkin stressed the importance of raising drug awarness and how to battle drugs and alcohol abuse, he gave examples of his acting career experience when he was pointing the facts out. In the semininar it was revealed that 30 million pounds were spent by offenders on drugs a year and over a million people were arrested for drugs possesion and supply annually.

"Children are like holding a bird in your hand. If you squeese too hard when you can distory them but with tenderness and understanding you can keep them from harm while they grow up", is what Cuneyt Arkin said to parents. He argued that it was vital that parents are aware about the dangers their children face ad what can be done about it. He added that parents had a huge responsibility in raising their children and they should make time to listen and talk to them.

U.K Turkish Islamic Cultural Centre, 212,216 Kigsland Road, E2 8AX Shoreditch, London UK.
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