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Turkish mosque sets example by distributing groceries among COVID-19 victims

Pakistan News & Features Services

A mosque in the Turkish city of Istanbul has set a unique example of social service by setting up a supermarket of sorts at its premises from where the needy persons, hit hard by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, could come over to collect the grocery items of their choice without paying anything.

The management of Dedeman mosque in the Sariyer district has placed the commonly consumed items like rice, flour, bread, pasta, oil, biscuits, milk and eggs at the racks near its entrance and the setting resembles to that of supermarket. But unlike the supermarket, everything here is available free of cost for the needy persons. 

The philanthropists and resourceful persons are being encouraged to donate the goods at the mosque in order to facilitate larger pool of people to receive them. The sign at the mosque’s window says that anyone can leave there something and those in need can take anything. 

It has been reported that this idea was a brainchild of the 33-year-old imam of the mosque, Abdul Samet Cakir, who was eager to reach out people in need via the place of worship after Turkey had suspended mass prayers in mosques until the risk of outbreak was over. Its major cities, including Istanbul, have been under lockdown. 

The imam has derived the inspiration by a donation culture in the Ottoman period known as ‘charity stone’ in which a small pillar stone was erected at certain locations of the city to connect rich people with the poor. The practice was aimed at giving charity in a dignified manner without offending the needy people.
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