(COMTEX) B: Turkish Jews, Muslims mark anniversary of Istanbul synagogue attacks ( AP WorldStream )
ISTANBUL, Turkey, Nov 15, 2004 (AP WorldStream via COMTEX) -- Turkish Jews and Muslims cried in the rain and recited prayers of mourning Monday as they marked the first anniversary of suicide bombings that struck two Istanbul synagogues in attacks blamed on a local al-Qaida cell.
Some 60 people were killed in Nov. 15 attacks on the Neve Shalom and Beth Israel synagogues and similar attacks five days later on the British Consulate and a London-based bank. Most of the dead were Turkish Muslims.
On Monday local officials, religious leaders, and family and friends holding photos of the victims laid red and white carnations on the streets where the suicide truck bombers detonated their explosives. A ceremony was held outside of each synagogue and about 100 people attended each service.
"We're here today to show our national unity," Silvyo Ovadya, president of Turkey's Jewish Community, said at the memorial services. "Those who aimed to hurt Turkish Jews actually hurt Turkey."
Outside Neve Shalom, Nermin Sahin, whose son Murat, a Muslim shopkeeper was killed, loudly shouted "damned be the terrorists who killed my son."
Abdullah Bayraktar, prayer leader at a nearby mosque that was also severely damaged in that blast, cried as he recited an Islamic prayer of mourning.
"Let's not give an opportunity to those who want to destroy our national unity," Bayraktar said.
A Jewish religious leader chanted a somber prayer of mourning in Hebrew for all of the victims - Muslim and Jewish - outside both synagogues.
An emotional Ibrahim Dayan, who was injured in Beth Israel and lost a friend in the attack, recalled the horror as a synagogue wall collapsed on him a year ago.
"Today was a very difficult day," he said. "I kept seeing everything over again, like it was a film."
A Turkish court is hearing the case of 69 Turks accused of involvement in the attacks. Most are believed to have played minor roles.
Harun Ilhan, a top suspect in the case, recently testified that he and several others carried out the attack for al-Qaida.
Turkish prosecutors have said that Osama bin Laden suggested targets for an attack in Turkey and his al-Qaida network later funded the Turkish Islamic militants who carried out the attacks.
Top members of the cell, including alleged ringleader Habib Akdas, are believed to have fled Turkey and joined the resistance in neighboring Iraq. Akdas is believed to have recently been killed in a U.S. airstrike.
By JAMES C. HELICKE
Associated Press Writer
Copyright 2004 Associated Press, All rights reserved
-0-
*** end of story ***
Greensburg, KS - 5/4/07
"Eternal vigilance is the price of Liberty."
from John Philpot Curran, Speech
upon the Right of Election, 1790
F6
