27.06.2026 14:00
CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu's planned welcome convoy in Istanbul today was canceled at the last minute. Stating that Muharram and Ashura should not be subject to political polemics, Kılıçdaroğlu announced that he decided not to attend the event due to the ensuing atmosphere, emphasizing unity, brotherhood, Karbala, and Ahl al-Bayt in his message.
The program planned today in Istanbul for Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, who was reinstated as the Chairman of the CHP by the court's absolute nullity decision, has been canceled.
While Kılıçdaroğlu was expected to be welcomed with a vehicle convoy at the Dudullu Çamlıca Toll Booths, it was announced that the program was canceled at the last moment.
"WE WILL NOT MAKE FAITH A TOOL OF POLITICS"
In a statement on his social media account, Kılıçdaroğlu stated that he has never considered using religious beliefs as part of political propaganda in any period.
Expressing that he does not find it right to make Muharram month and Ashura a subject of political polemics, Kılıçdaroğlu made the following assessment: "I have never considered making any belief a material of politics and propaganda at any point in my life. I will not allow the month of Muharram, one of the most exceptional times of the Islamic faith, and the day of Ashura to be subjected to political polemics, tensions, fights, propaganda calculations, and exploitation; at least we will not be a part of this shame and this burden."
Emphasizing that social and spiritual values should be kept above political calculations, Kılıçdaroğlu said, "In our view, social and spiritual values are much more valuable than political ambition calculations and daily political gains."
"WE DECIDED THAT NOT PARTICIPATING WOULD BE MORE APPROPRIATE"
Stating that despite being included in his program, he decided not to attend the Ashura event due to the atmosphere that formed, Kılıçdaroğlu used the following expressions in his statement:
"With this understanding, although it was in our program, we have concluded that not physically attending the Ashura event would be more correct, meaningful, and accurate due to the atmosphere that arose. Because sometimes the most correct stance is not to appear in crowds; it is not to be complicit in making faith a material for politics." Kılıçdaroğlu concluded his message by wishing that the month of Muharram and Ashura would strengthen the climate of unity, brotherhood, and truth.
HE ALSO SHARED THE ASHURA MESSAGE
Kılıçdaroğlu also added the long message he prepared for the Ashura event to his post. He used the following expressions in his message; "My valuable brothers who carry the noble lineage and morality of Ahl al-Bayt in their hearts, my respected religious leaders who serve our faith, those whose hearts burn with the unending fire of Karbala, the dear children of the Prophet who guide themselves with the Husseini stance; I greet you all with respect and love.
Today we have come here to open our hearts to that great pain, Karbala, which falls like a burning coal into the heart of Islamic history and all humanity. We have come not to speak, but actually to listen to the cry of our hearts by being silent. We have come to make our tears a balm to each other's wounds. I bow with respect and gratitude before the honorable and pure souls of Hz. Hussein, the master of the youth of Paradise, the Shah of Martyrs, the beloved and heart's core of our Prophet, the flower of hearts blooming against oppression, Hz. Zeynep's apple of the eye, and his companions. May your fasts, your tears, be written in the court of Shah-e Merdan Ali and our mother Fatima. May your mourning be accepted and approved in the sight of God.
"TODAY WE COMMEMORATE HUMANITY'S STRUGGLE FOR JUSTICE"
Dear Brothers, My Soulmates; Karbala is an unextinguished ember even after centuries, a heart geography that cauterizes our hearts in the heat of the ember every Muharram month. Today we are not just commemorating a massacre of humanity; today we commemorate the struggle for justice of humanity, who were martyred by being left thirsty by the Euphrates. We commemorate loyalty, human dignity, and morality.
My brothers; In Karbala, there was an army of Yazid that worshipped the powerful, the ambitious, worldly goods, and the tyrant; on the other side, there was Hz. Hussein and souls who defended only morality—look, my brothers, morality, right, and humanity—who gave up their lives while defending but never compromised their honor. My brothers, in Karbala there was a spirit that did not betray the soul breathed into humans, that gave its life against the oppression of the Yazids but did not leave its honor on the ground. There, my friends, we were there, and we will always exist there and with that spirit.
Dear brothers, We grew up in these lands with the mortar of Khorasan, with the breath of Haji Bektash Veli, Hz. Ali, and Ahl al-Bayt. The soul of this breath is contained in one sentence: 'Control your hand, your loins, your tongue.'
To control your hand means not to reach for orphan's property or rights of others; not to wield the sword of oppression, not to touch the forbidden. To control your loins means not to be a slave to your desires, not to deviate even a bit from morality, decency, chastity, and loyalty. To control your tongue means not to allow lies, slander, discord, or gossip. Not to hurt even if hurt, to speak every word by filtering it through truth.
"OUR SIDE IS THE SIDE OF THE OPPRESSED"
My friends, Today, new Karbalas are happening all over the world. The oppressed are again thirsty, innocent children are again crying. Human dignity is being trampled upon. Our side, just as yesterday in Karbala, is today and tomorrow, without hesitation, the side of the oppressed. Regardless of their sect, way, belief, or ethnic origin, the cry of every soul that suffers injustice is our cry. This burning fire in the hearts of our Ja'fari brothers is our common pain, common mourning, and common honor. Our greatest shield against those who want to divide us with sectarian sedition and try to sow seeds of discord among us is that we are one heart, one arm in this square.
Dear souls, As I conclude my words, I once again renew that great pain that burns our hearts; I commemorate Imam Hussein, Zeyneb-i Kubra, Ali Akbar, Ali Asghar, and all the dear martyrs of Karbala with infinite respect, mercy, and gratitude. I commemorate Ali Khamenei, who walked to martyrdom by giving his life against the American occupation but not allowing it, our 175 children who flew to heaven like birds in the imperialist attack, and every soul that fell to the ground in order not to allow occupiers, with respect and mercy. May their souls be glad, their places be paradise.
"HUSSEINI SPIRITS THAT DO NOT BOW TO YAZIDS WILL ALWAYS EXIST"
May God Almighty not separate us from the path of Ahl al-Bayt, the morality and justice of Hz. Hussein. I extend my thanks to the valuable names and all those who contributed to organizing this magnificent ceremony, making our pain and faith common. May our mourning be accepted, our unity and brotherhood be eternal. I greet you all with my deepest respect, love, and reverence. And finally, I call out to the whole world from here: Yes, Yazids never end, but Husseini spirits that do not bow to Yazids will always exist. A thousand salutations to those who control their hands, loins, and tongues."