29.05.2026 13:20
A conquest program was organized by the AK Party Istanbul Provincial Presidency at the Rumeli Fortress Fetih Mosque on the 573rd anniversary of the Conquest of Istanbul. The program featured a Mehter concert, the chanting of the conquest call to prayer, and prayers. Speaking at the event, AK Party Istanbul Provincial Chairman Abdullah Özdemir said, "These structures, known as Boğazkesen, with Rumeli Fortress and Anadolu Fortress preventing the passage of cannons through the strait from both sides, were, praise be to Allah, the harbinger of the conquest of Istanbul at the beginning of the Conquest."
The AK Party Istanbul Provincial Directorate organized a conquest program at Rumeli Hisarı Conquest Mosque within the scope of the 573rd anniversary of the conquest of Istanbul. The program included a mehter concert, the conquest call to prayer, and the conquest prayer. Former Minister of Interior, AK Party Istanbul Deputy Süleyman Soylu, AK Party Istanbul Provincial Director Abdullah Özdemir, and citizens attended the program.
"THIS PLACE HAS BEEN THE HERALD OF THE CONQUEST OF ISTANBUL" AK Party Istanbul Provincial Director Abdullah Özdemir, who made the opening speech at the program, said, "First, on the third day of our blessed Eid al-Adha, we are celebrating our Eid with the Sarıyer organization. Another is that we are celebrating the 573rd anniversary of the Conquest together at the point where the Conquest began. Also, it coinciding with Friday is an extra beauty. I especially want to emphasize that. Dear neighbors, this is our Rumeli Fortress, built in 1452, where Sultan Fatih himself carried the stones. Here, we have all witnessed that the Conquest was heralded, thank God. Alhamdulillah. With Rumeli Fortress and Anadolu Fortress, these structures, called Boğazkesen, where cannons from both sides prevented passage through the strait, have been the herald of the conquest of Istanbul at the beginning of the Conquest, thank God," he said.
SOYLU: THIS PLACE IS THE RISE SPACE OF OUR ANCESTORS Speaking after the opening speech, former Minister of Interior, AK Party Istanbul Deputy Süleyman Soylu said, "I stated that this place is a field of history and responsibility. Our history has left us great legacies. Today is the 573rd anniversary of the conquest. It is a great legacy for us, for the generations before us, and for the generations after us. We are trying to put forward an understanding that continues with the responsibility of this legacy. The AK Party, which we are struggling for today, is a struggle that contains all the elements of this conquest. It is not just a political movement. I want to say here: Just as the conquest built and constructed itself with certain elements, just as the conquest devoted itself to history with certain elements, the AK Party is not just a political movement; it is the carrier of this civilization, the carrying pillar of this civilization, and it is the greatest civilization movement that will leave this civilization to the future," he said.
Continuing his speech, Soylu said, "This place is a place of rise. It is the place of rise of our ancestors. It is not just a place of history and our responsibility. It is a place from where we challenge the whole world. But this is only a beginning. You will know that our responsibility is not over. The sacrifices made from Edirne to Kars, the prayers recited over those sacrifices from Edirne to Kars, let the sky dome bear witness that our rise has begun here, and our rise will continue until it brings order to the whole world."