Ceremony held for Roma Umrah pilgrims in western Turkey

MANISA, Turkey

In a ceremony held in western Turkey Wednesday evening, 33 Roma citizens bade farewell to perform the Umrah, a pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

As part of a project launched by Turkey's ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party's Presidency of Civil Society and Public Relations, a first group of 33 Roma Muslims from Manisa and Izmir provinces were sent to perform the pilgrimage.

Speaking at the ceremony, the body's vice president, Rifat Sait, said the project was instigated by President Selcuk Ozdag, following demands made by two Roma citizens.

"God willing, we are taking 33 people from Manisa and Izmir to holy soils, Umrah," said Said, adding that 333 more - from other provinces of the country such as Konya, Edirne, Canakkale, and Bursa – are also expected to make the trip.

Sait said the group of Roma would be back by May 21 and would visit President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The Umrah pilgrimage, unlike the Hajj, can be undertaken throughout the year.