Two recent iftar protests organized by a pro-Islamic group, the Labor and Justice Platform, open a debate on how much attention is paid to social injustice within Islamic discourse. While the protesters criticize Islam’s drawing closer to capitalism in Turkey in recent years, some say Islam is already just in itself
group of protestors gathered in front of Istanbul Conrad Hotel last Monday, bringing food and breaking their fasts on the street. AA photo
If only one picture were used to depict the month of Ramadan, that image would likely be of an iftar, the traditional fast-breaking dinner, a ceremonial activity featuring a variety of dishes.
This picture is, however, now being challenged by one Islamic group and its supporters, who recently protested the glamorous and expensive iftars held in luxury hotels.
After breaking their fast on the street in front of Istanbul’s Conrad Hotel last week, members of the Labor and Justice Platform organized another protest dinner Saturday in the city’s well-known Taksim Square, which is bordered by three five-star hotels.
“We are against the waste of money during these dinners. Instead of spending that money on the [iftar] tables, patrons should give it away to their workers,” the group said in a statement. Members held up posters bearing messages such as “Fasting breaks capitalism and capitalism breaks fasting” and “Iftar menu: 318 Turkish Liras; Minimum wage: 658 liras.” “This is not just a protest against the iftars during Ramadan, but we did [the protests during this time] because these luxurious feasts have become symbols of a capitalist understanding that has grown in the last 15 years,” one of the participants, theologian and writer İhsan Eliaçık, told the Hürriyet Daily News.
“While the poor people gather in tents to receive a free meal from municipalities, the rich gather in these hotels. Unfortunately the conservative mentality in Turkey has produced this [wealth] gap and this situation has been normalized,” Eliaçık said. Columnist Hidayet Şefkatli Tuksal, who was also among the protesters, said issues regarding social injustice are not discussed enough among Islamic groups.
“There is a growing capitalism in Turkey yet its consequences are not discussed at all. Conservative groups, which are becoming richer and richer, do not really own these issues; if they do they are accused of being leftists,” Tuksal told the Daily News. Others disagree with the protesters, saying that Islam’s tenets includes justice, giving as proof the practices such as “zakat,” the compulsory giving of a set percentage of one’s wealth to charity.
“Muslim people all around the world follow this practice, and this shows Islam’s treatment of injustice. This is already a practice, and if there were more Muslim people in the world, there would be less inequality,” said Erol Yarar, a former executive of the Independent Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association, or MÜSİAD, a conservative group.
Theologian Eliaçık disagrees. “The giving away of one’s wealth doesn’t help avoid inequality. There is a huge abyss between the rich and the poor in this country. The rich relax their conscience by giving away a bit of money but continue their consumption and [continue] charging high interest [rates],” he said.
According to Eliaçık, anti-communist propaganda in the 1960s and 1970s has kept Islamic and leftist groups apart in Turkey.
“Now we do have leftist members in our group; they respect our opinions and we respect theirs. But we need to make our voice more visible in the media,” he added.
Warnings
While the recent iftar have protests started a debate among conservative figures in the media, politicians also seem to have been influenced by the discourse. During an iftar hosted by MÜSİAD, Parliament Speaker Cemil Çiçek criticized the luxurious tables. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also called for the cancellation of glittering iftar dinners.
Currently, an iftar at the five-star Çırağan Kempinski hotel costs 185 liras while iftar at the Four Seasons hotel costs 110 liras. Other prices also range between 65- 200 liras.
Members of the Labor and Justice Platform said they would continue with their protests. “We will continue our protests during Ramadan,” group member Özgür Kaya said. “We will do it until we break down the walls between the classes.”
