Turkish charity distributes Holy Qurans in Ethiopia

By Addis Getachew

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AA) - The Turkiye Diyanet Foundation (TDV) has begun distributing an Amharic version of the Holy Quran at mosques in Ethiopia’s capital.

Some 1,200 copies were given out to worshippers at the Grand Anwar Mosque in Addis Ababa who had just completed their last Friday prayers before the Eid al-Fitr holiday, which marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan.

The foundation financed the printing of 15,000 copies in collaboration with Addis Ababa University.

Haji Taha Muhamed Harun, the imam of the Grand Anwar Mosque, told Anadolu Agency that they had begun discussing cooperation with the foundation six months ago.

He thanked the TDV for what he described as a job well done.

“We are happy that they came to us to distribute the Quran copies and to pray the Friday Salat [prayer] with us,” he said of the TDV officials.

“And Diyanet promised us blankets. And also we would be happy if they help us dig a water well inside the mosque.”

Cemil Alici, the religious services advisor at the Turkish Embassy in Addis Ababa, told Anadolu Agency that TDV in collaboration with a Turkish businessman and the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) will undertake the refurbishment of the mosque.

“Turkey will also set up a soup kitchen inside the Grand Anwar Mosque so that food can be distributed on special days,” Alici said.

He said demand for the Amharic Qurans remains high.

Haji Hassan Tolahi spoke to Anadolu Agency after taking his share of the Qurans.

“We need as many copies of the Amharic version of the Quran [as possible] because while we and our children recite the Quran, we may not understand it.”

“So we need it for the reference; to understand the meaning better,” he said.

“The Quran has been being translated into Amharic since the days of Emperor Haile Selassie, but the number of copies has never been sufficient,” said Ahmed Suleyman, another worshipper.