Cross-border bayram celebrations

Hatay Governor Abdulkadir Sari welcomed his Syrian counterpart from Ildip, Huseyin Ali al Haddar and a delegation at the border post on Monday, and said that the recent increase in customs traffic between both countries showed the friendship of the two peoples.

He said family links that crossed the borders made both countries closer, especially in trade relations. Sari said that that Turkish and Syrian nationals crossing the border could spend up to 48 hours with their relatives before returning to their respective countries. More than 10,000 Turkish nationals are expected to make the journey during these holidays.

Haddar said that the number of people crossing borders during religious holidays was increasing every year, and added that they hoped the limits imposed on border crossings would gradually be decreased.

Similar scenes could also be seen near the Nusaybin Border Post in Mardin, where around 5,500 people are expected to cross over to Syria for Ramadan Bayram. Nusaybin Local Administrator Ersin Emiroglu met with his Syrian counterpart from Kamisli, Taysir al Hatip at the border post, thanking Syrian officials for their help towards Turkish citizens during the crossing.

Bostan Sengul (45) waited for hours at the Cilvegozu Border post on Monday, hoping to see his sister, who went to Syria 25 years ago as a bride. He said he had not seen his sister since then and that she was coming to see their 105 year old father.

Sengul, after finding his sister, was proud to be the one chosen to take her to see their father. He said, "We will tell each other what happened in our lives during Ramadan."

Fatma Aslan was one Turkish national who had an ulterior motive in visiting Syria. When asked, she said: "I will visit my brother and ask the hand of my brother’s daughter for my son, who is currently working in Russia. A dowry in Nusaybin is very expensive. It’s much cheaper in Syria. Syrians want to marry their daughters to Turks, because of the higher living standards."