'Ghadir Khumm should be a public holiday'

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The Arab Alevis are celebrating their religious day Ghadir Khumm (Eid al-Ghadir) today (July 5).

Green Left Party Adana MP Tülay Hatimoğulları made a legislative proposal suggesting that the Ghadir Khumm should be declared an official holiday. 

"For the Arab Alewites living mostly in Hatay, Adana, and Mersin in Turkey, the working life stops from the day prior to Ghadir Khumm until the next day. Since all public institutions are open on that day, the Arab Alewite citizens have great difficulty exchanging bairam greetings and fulfilling their religious obligations," Hatimoğulları said. 

She argued that the day should be declared a public holiday for Arab Alewite citizens to be able to practice their religious duties and to feel equal citizens. 

Ghadir Khumm event

The Ghadir Hum day is celebrated by the Arab Alewites and also all Shiite groups as the day when Prophet Muhammed pronounced Ali ibn Abi Talib as the Mawla in the year 632 on the return from the Farewell Pilgrimage. 

It is believed that Prophet Muhammed said, in the region called "Ghadir Khumm" between Mecca and Medina, "He whose Mawla I am, Ali is his Mawla," and named Ali as the next caliph after himself. 

Source: Wikipedia

(VC/PE)