By Yusuf Kanli
TDN- Last year at around this time, in incidents only a few days apart, terrorism was at work in Istanbul with the worst of its methods. Creatures posing as human beings but devoid of any human values were let out of their dens.
We lost scores of dear ones, and many of our loved ones were seriously wounded. Since then the Neve Shalom Synagogue, the British Consulate General and the shops in the vicinity of the attacks have been repaired and put back into service, except the building that served as the headquarters of a bank. Life has returned to normal.
But we should neither forget the cowardly attacks nor the very dear ones lost in those attacks.
Still, life goes on and we should not help the terrorists achieve their heinous aims. We had to return to normalcy, albeit with increased security.
After the fasting month of Ramadan, the Islamic world on Sunday will be celebrating the holy Eid Al-Fitr. We will be visiting our elders and our young ones will visit us, and we will celebrate these holy days together.
Not only Muslims but also our Christian and Jewish friends will join us in celebrating the holy days, just as we join them in celebrating Christian or Jewish holidays.
Regardless of whatever those primitive creatures were able to perpetuate in the name of Islam, we shall maintain our interracial, intercultural harmony. The Jews and Christians as well as our people holding other religious beliefs are the owners of this country just like any of us Muslims.
During these holy days, we want to repeat our call: Let us unite in the fight against terrorism irrespective of the source or the cause. Let no one forget that the bombs directed against our people yesterday will target others tomorrow. The international community must come together to combat these sophisticated terrorist groups in a concerted effort. Only then can we protect innocent lives.
We celebrate Eid Al-Fitr with of all of our readers.