One of the Most Merciful’s tables organized by the Istanbul Municipality in the Fatih region (Anatolia)
Istanbul -
The Turkish people received the month of Ramadan in difficult economic conditions, with the weight of rising prices and the rapid and successive decline in the value of the lira, in addition to the challenges resulting from increasing inflation, in light of attempts by the Turkish government to reduce these burdens with the aim of enabling citizens to spend the holy month in the way they are accustomed to. And practicing their traditions, such as hospitality and social and religious events that extend over a period of 30 days.
Al-Rahman’s banquets, whose roots go back to the Ottoman era, have never been limited to serving the poor and needy in Turkey. Rather, these banquets have a special status among the Turks, as a social and religious event sponsored by charitable institutions and government agencies, with the aim of consolidating the values of compassion and solidarity among the various segments of society.
Today, in light of a deteriorating economic reality, Turks have found in Al-Rahman’s tables a refuge that unites them around ingrained Ramadan customs, and frees them from the financial burden imposed on them by daily meal preparations, which may increase their living pressures throughout the month.
In this way, searching for these tables, which are periodically sponsored by municipalities and charitable organizations, has become a shared activity for everyone.
One of Al-Rahman’s tables attended by Turkish President Erdogan in the city of Malatya (social media)
Sahar Karagöz shared with Al Jazeera Net her vision about what Al-Rahman’s tables have come to represent for her and her friends, saying: “It was the custom for us to gather our children and grandchildren on the first day of Ramadan every year, and thanks to God, we were able to preserve these traditions this year as well. However, there are also invitations A habit of my neighbors and friends, as well as my husband's friends. How can we afford all these costs? This year, my friends and I decided to abandon the tradition of vows and chose instead to go to the Al-Rahman tables held by the municipality, where the food is free, clean and delicious, and then we can enjoy drinking tea from Without worrying about expenses.
With a smile carrying hope and patience, Karagöz (52 years old) continued her speech, saying: “I realize that this time will pass, and as we witness the government’s efforts on our behalf, we are aware of the obstacles that stand in its way and the extent of its interest in taking care of us. But, whatever the economic circumstances, we must remember that “The month of Ramadan is not only about food and drink, it is a time for worship, getting closer to God, and strengthening family ties.”
As for Hasan Yildirim, a student at Istanbul Technical University who lives in a government student hostel, Karagöz did not share the same view, expressing his dissatisfaction with the current economic situation in the country. He said: “I live in government housing, where I often do not like the food provided, which forces me to eat my meals.” Abroad. With the advent of Ramadan, I began visiting the tables of God, hoping to find food that I liked without incurring additional costs. In fact, worrying about every penny I spent became exhausting, and I longed for immediate and radical economic change in my country.”
He added: "I dream of seeing a rapid improvement in the economic situation, because in the current situation, even after graduation, I will face difficulties in finding work, and the basics such as owning a house, a car, and marriage will become a luxury for me."
Tables of the Most Merciful are not limited to serving the poor, but rather are considered a social and religious event sponsored by charitable institutions (Anatolia)
Experience for residents
The significant increase in prices did not only affect Turkish citizens, but also significantly affected residents of different nationalities, especially students who have become an integral part of Turkish society.
Saed Iyad, a student at the Middle East Technical University in Ankara, shared his experience with Al Jazeera Net, explaining how inflation, high prices, and the devaluation of the Turkish lira affected him and other foreign students he knows.
He said: “Although I am in the third year of my studies, this is the first Ramadan in which I decide with my friends to visit the tables of the Most Gracious, given the gradual rise in tuition fees and daily expenses. Although we, as foreign students, benefit from converting foreign currencies into the Turkish lira, we are in "We end up paying higher prices for the same goods and services."
Iyad added: “Despite the economic challenges and the difficulty of reconciling expenses with university fees, I feel grateful for the circumstances that pushed me to explore the tables of the Most Merciful and experience their spiritual and social atmosphere, something I would not have thought about had it not been for these circumstances.”
The Turks found in the tables of the Most Merciful a refuge that united them around Ramadan customs and freed them from a financial burden (social media)
Turkish economy
The inflation rate in Turkey rose last February to 67.1% on an annual basis from 64.9% last January, while the prices of consumer goods rose on a monthly basis by 4.5%, and the Turkish currency lost about 37% of its value last year and 6%. Since the beginning of this year.
For its part, the Central Bank last month maintained the inflation target by the end of the year at 36%, and pledged to tighten monetary policy for a longer period to reduce inflation to the desired path, in light of its fixing of the interest rate unchanged at 45% at the end of last February.
The Turkish Minister of Treasury and Finance, Mehmet Simsek, expected that annual inflation would remain high in the coming months, due to the effects of the base year and the lack of the impact of monetary policy, but it would decline during the following 12 months.
In a related context, last week, Fitch Rating Agency raised Turkey’s rating from “B” to “B+” and modified its future outlook from “stable” to “positive.”
This improvement came in the wake of the announcement that the Turkish economy grew by 4.5% over the past year, exceeding expectations for 4% growth in the last quarter of the year, in addition to the Turkish President’s announcement that the gross domestic product had reached a record level of $1.119 trillion for the first time.
Source: Al Jazeera