Funeral prayer in absentia in Mali for Gulen’s brother

A funeral prayer in absentia took place in the West African country Mali for the Honorable Fethullah Gulen’s brother Seyfulah Gulen who recently passed away. In attendance of the funeral at the capital city Bamako’s largest mosque, located in Bahar Turkish School campus, were numerous people from both Turkey and Mali.

Ebubekir Nimaga, the eldest son of the Mali Bahar Schools’ donor family, led the funeral prayer. Following the prayer, Mali people expressed their condolences to their Turkish fellows. “We’ve learned that the Honorable Gulen’s brother Seyfullah Gulen passed away. I would like to express my condolences to Gulen and his family,” Nimaga said. He further prayed for the deceased Gulen.

Ethem Demir, a 65-year-old employee at the school, said, “We’ve been living in Mali, far away from Turkey. We are deeply sad at the loss of Seyfullah Gulen. We wanted to hold a funeral prayer for him. I don’t know him in person but I know the Honorable Gulen very well. We wanted to share his loss and held this prayer.May Allah rest his soul and give the Honorable Gulen a long life.

Vice-principal to the school Mohamed Niare similarly said, “We are deeply saddened for the Honorable Gulen’s loss. We would like to convey our condolences via you. May him rest in paradise.”

Published [in Turkish] on Cihan, 6 December 2014, Friday