Turkish reconstruction team, Afghans celebrate Bayram together

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN

12.10.2008

Courtesy Story

International Security Assistance Force HQ Public Affairs

From the International Security Assistance Force - Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan -- In mid-September, in Wardak Province—directly southeast of Afghanistan's capital of Kabul—the United Nations made the decision to withdraw all personnel completing humanitarian missions throughout the province, with the exception of those in the Behsud district. Citing a grave concern over the security of its mission workers, most media outlets took the UN's decision, coupled with reports that Taliban forces were proclaiming they had taken nearly 75-percent of the province, and dubbed the area a "lawless region".

But hope abounds Afghanistan's poorest province on the eve of the annual Islamic Bayram celebration. With the help of a civilian-led Turkish Provincial Reconstruction Team—the only one of its kind—and the leadership of a visionary governor who has been in place for four months of his three-year commitment, Wardak can continue to see the improvements it began when the PRT was established in November 2006.

In a large green tent in a corner of the PRT complex, a large tarp lay across the grass. Turkish soldiers gathered around the tarp are cutting up a cow and separating it into separate piles.

A Turkish escort explains that the slaughter of this animal is actually a ceremonious sacrifice marking the first day of Bayram, a four-day Islamic celebration. Two-thirds of the meat will be donated to local Afghan citizens deemed to be the poorest by their tribal chiefs, while the remaining third will find its way into the Turkish PRT's dinner later in the evening.

The Turkish escort explained the Old Testament story of the Bible and part of the Koran where the prophet Abraham was asked to sacrifice his only son to God.

"Just before he was about to do it, God tells him to that his devotion was enough and to sacrifice an animal instead," he said. "It is this simple principle we practice to be closer to God."

More than just the sacrifice, the event brings together families in their duty to help struggling Muslims in a time meant for peace, if only for a few days.

In another location in the province, people have gathered outside the structure that houses Wardak's governmental council. Each district is represented by an elder as they prepare to distribute more than 16 tons of beef meat that was prepared several miles along the main road in Maiden Shahr. The meat was donated by the Turkish government in celebration of the Bayram, and its distribution was facilitated through coordination meetings between the PRT's Civilian Coordinator, Cünyet Yavuzcan, the Provincial Council Chief, Haji Muhammed Hazret Jaman, and Wardak Governor Halim Fidai.

"Each district has formulated its own list of financially challenged citizens," Yavuzcan explains.

The meat is carried off the trucks to the districts by a myriad of methods. Some carry seven or eight bags of meat, some 50-pounds or so, in blankets on their backs, while some are fortunate enough to have brought small Toyota trucks.

After the meat has been distributed to the various district representatives, the group heads back to the PRT compound. It's dinner time and the line has begun to form outside the dining room at the PRT. The spirit of the PRT workers is high—it is their time of celebration. As each enters the dining area one by one they greet people cheerily as they enter to get in the back of the line. Everyone sits to enjoy their meal.

"Turkey has a long history of good relations with Afghanistan historically, culturally and religiously," said Yavuzcan, who explained that the establishment of a Turkish PRT could be seen not only as a contribution to NATO forces and their efforts, but also as a continued solidarity between the two countries.

The dinner seems a fitting end the day. A Turkish Army officer states what he believes is the key to winning in the war against terrorism in Afghanistan, "we must win the minds of the people."

The mindset at this dinner is one of giving, a key theme of Bayram that Muslims perpetuate.

• Date Taken: 12.10.2008
• Date Posted: 12.10.2008 09:40
• Story ID: 27451
• Location: KABUL, AF