Governors Join Martyrs' Families and Veterans for Iftar as Karlıova Hosts Unity Table for Heroes
Regional officials across the country marked the opening days of Ramadan by sharing evening meals with martyrs' families and veterans, underscoring a wider push to place those families and veterans at the center of communal observance. In separate events, the governors of Ağrı and Burdur attended iftar gatherings with bereaved families and veterans, while a symbolic "unity table" was established in Karlıova to honor local heroes.
Governor Önder Bozkurt meets martyrs' families and veterans in Ağrı
In Ağrı, Governor Önder Bozkurt joined martyrs' families and veterans for an iftar gathering that brought together local officials and community members. The event emphasized solidarity with families who lost loved ones in service and provided a setting for veterans to be publicly acknowledged during the holy month.
The Ağrı gathering followed the pattern of this year's municipal and provincial Ramadan programs, which have stressed personal outreach by senior officials. Attendees described the evening as intimate and respectful, with officials taking time to listen to family members and veterans as they shared meals.
Burdur governor holds first iftar at Lavanta Tepesi Otel, visits tables and leads prayers
Burdur Governor Tülay Baydar Bilgihan marked her first iftar of the Ramadan season by hosting martyrs' families, veterans and local residents at Lavanta Tepesi Otel. Before the evening meal, Governor Baydar Bilgihan walked among the tables to speak directly with families, a practice she highlighted as central to her office's approach to community service.
The program included a formal prayer offered by Provincial Mufti Ali Hayri Çelik, followed by remarks from the governor in which she reflected on the significance of gathering in the first days of Ramadan. She framed the occasion as both a spiritual renewal and a moment to honor the sacrifices of martyrs and the service of veterans, expressing gratitude and promising continued attention from local institutions.
In her remarks the governor noted the emotional weight carried by families who have lost close relatives and reiterated that public life and civic security are rooted in those sacrifices. She conveyed her wish for the community to observe the month with unity and compassion, and extended greetings from national leadership present at recent high-level meetings.
Karlıova sets up a unity table to honor heroes
In Karlıova, authorities and community organizers established a "unity table" dedicated to heroes — an iftar setting explicitly arranged to bring together the families of those who served and returned veterans. The Karlıova initiative served as a local expression of the same theme seen in Ağrı and Burdur: giving martyrs' families and veterans a visible and honored place at the Ramadan table.
Organizers described the Karlıova table as both symbolic and practical, providing a communal space where stories could be shared and neighborhood ties strengthened. The setup was intended to reinforce respect and appreciation for service while enabling former service members and bereaved relatives to connect with civic leaders and neighbors in a calm, ceremonial atmosphere.
Taken together, these regional events reflect a coordinated cultural emphasis this Ramadan on direct engagement between officials, martyrs' families and veterans. Governors and local leaders have used the iftar setting to offer personal thanks and public recognition, while municipalities and districts like Karlıova have framed communal meals as sites for remembering sacrifice and reinforcing social bonds during the holy month.
