26 March 2025
(PHOTO: Fevzi Mamutov/Facebook)
The Second Regional Iftar of Southern Ukraine was held in Odesa, bringing together Crimean Tatars, clergy, military and volunteers in common prayer and fellowship. The event was an important step towards strengthening unity, supporting the defenders and restoring justice for Crimea.
This was reported by the head of the public organization "Crimean Tatars of Odesa Region" Fevzi Mamutov.
Iftar is a dinner eaten by Muslims during Ramadan after evening prayers. They usually start with dates or water, and then continue the festive meal with family, neighbors and friends. During this event, prayers and sermons are usually broadcast on radio and television.
According to Fevzi Mamutov, this event has become not only a traditional Ramadan fast, but also an important platform for interfaith dialogue and interethnic acquaintance, in particular for Crimean Tatars who continue to fight for the return of Crimea.
The event was attended by representatives of mosques, churches, military, volunteers and public figures who are working for peace and unity in Ukraine. As part of the Iftar, awards were presented to the military, volunteers and activists, who were honored by the head of the Odesa Regional Military Administration Oleg Kiper and the head of the regional council and mufti Murat Suleymanov.
It is on days like these that we feel even more how important it is to be together - despite different languages, religions or nationalities. Because we are united by the main thing - humanity, compassion and a common struggle for dignity," emphasized Fevzi Mamutov.
The participants emphasized the importance of further support for the Ukrainian military, assistance to IDPs and uniting all communities around common values. The main message of the event was the belief in the victory of Ukraine and the restoration of justice, including the return of the temporarily occupied Crimea.
In early March, an OSCE event dedicated to the role of the media in exposing Russian crimes and occupation took place in Vienna. A representative of the Association of Reintegration of Crimea, Borys Babin, emphasized the need to support the projects Krym.Realii and Donbas.Realii by Radio Liberty, especially in the context of the termination of their funding by the United States, which affects media freedom.
At the end of February, Fevzi Mamutov, head of the Crimean Tatars of Odesa Region NGO, together with Odesa residents, honored the courage of Crimeans who, despite the occupation, remain loyal to Ukraine. February 26 marked the 10th anniversary of the beginning of the resistance to the occupation of Crimea and the war unleashed by Russia against Ukraine.
Recently, human rights activists, together with international organizations, presented evidence of Russia's systematic war crimes in Crimea and other occupied territories to the UN. The Media Initiative for Human Rights (MIPHR) presented the research at the event "Torture and Arbitrary Detention as Crimes Against Humanity", where at least 1,908 civilians illegally detained by Russia were identified.
Анна Бальчінос