By Erbil Basay, Emre Gurkan Abay, Bahtiyar Abdukerimov, Davit Kachkachishvili, Aliia Raimbekova, Nezir Aliyev, Recep Sakar, Furkan Naci Top and Omer Koparan
ANKARA (AA) – Muslims in Europe, Asia and Oceania thronged mosques on the first of the four-day Eid al-Adha holiday on Tuesday.
In Germany, Muslims in the capital Berlin and in Cologne headed to mosques for Eid prayers.
Meanwhile, Muslims in the Russian capital of Moscow, as well as around the country also flocked to mosques to pray.
President Vladimir Putin issued an Eid message to Muslims living in Russia.
Muslims in Swedish in the capital Stockholm also swarmed into mosques for the Eid prayer.
Turkish Ambassador in Stockholm Hakki Emre Yunt prayed at Fittja Mosque near Stockholm.
In the Kazakh capital of Astana, nine mosques were open for prayers.
President Nursultan Nazarbayev extended Eid wishes in a statement
In Kazakhstan, the Eid al-Adha holiday lasts for one day rather than four.
– 200,000 in Athens
In the Uzbek capital Tashkent, streets, where there are mosques, were made pedestrian. The Uzbekistan News Agency said at least 15 million people had gone to mosques to pray.
In Kyrgyzstan's capital Bishkek, thousands gathered at a square near the president's office for an Eid prayer attended by Parliament Speaker Dastanbek Cumabekov.
At least 200,000 Muslims in the Greek capital Athens prayed in basements as the city does not have a mosque.
In Thessaloniki — Greece's the second-largest city — around 200 Muslims gathered at a historic mosque from the Ottoman era.
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras offered Eid greetings on Twitter.
“Greetings to all Muslims in Greece and around the world celebrating Eid al-Adha, the Festival of Sacrifice. Best wishes for a blessed holiday, ” he said.
In Australia, thousands of Muslims prayed in 27 mosques. The country's Bureau of Statistics indicates that over 600,000 Muslims live in Australia.
– Afrin
Residents in Syria’s Afrin region — cleared of terrorists by Turkish forces and the Free Syrian Army — were happy to celebrate Eid in a safe and peaceful atmosphere.
A resident named Ahmed Ali told Anadolu Agency that they were having their first Eid al-Adha without terror.
“We are having an Eid in peace and safety. The Eid atmosphere is beautiful in Afrin, ” Ali said and thanked Turkish Armed Forces and Free Syrian Army for removing YPG/PKK and Daesh terrorists from Afrin.
On Jan. 20 Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch to remove YPG/PKK and Daesh terrorists from Afrin. On March 18, Turkish troops and the Free Syrian Army liberated the Afrin district center.
