Serkan Nergis
The place where sun rises first
IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation has added Kamchatka to the list of countries where it sacrifices donated animals on the occasion of the Eid al-Adha. Kamchatka is a 1,250-kilometer-long peninsula in the Russian Far East. It lies between the Pacific Ocean to the east and the Sea of Okhotsk to the west. Looking at the location of Kamchatka on the map gives the idea to one about the possible length of journey to this peninsula. We have no doubt that the region will be a cold one due to its geographical proximity to Alaska.
Never seen such a cold before
When we got off the plane, we were chilled to the bone. There was no snow but there was an unbelievable cold. We learned that it snowed two weeks ago. Then, there was no snow but everywhere was covered in a layer of ice. It seems that we need some time to get used to the ice cold having come from a summer-like weather in İstanbul.
City of volcanoes
We head to the city center with the brothers who took us from the airport. When you get out of the airport located in the Elizovo city, you are saluted by three volcanoes standing next to each other. All three are active volcanoes. Seeing ash coming out from the top of one is sufficient to startle us. After having some rest at the hotel, we have an excursion in the city.
Kamchatka in brief
Kamchatka is an autonomous country which has a population of around 250,000. According to our initial impression it is like a developed fishing town. Fishing is one of the main sources of income in the region. Being a peninsula, Kamchatka has connection to nowhere from land. The region can only be accessed through air and sea. Glaciers and volcanic mountains prevent land access to the region. The most striking thing about Kamchatka is the date bar which is between the region and Alaska. Days begin in Kamchatka first. The sun sets first in Kamchatka. Although it is a neighbor of Alaska, Kamchatka follows Alaska one day behind.
A mosque primary need of the region’s Muslims
The Muslim call to prayer which is recited in Kamchatka is the first Muslim call to prayer on in the world on the same day. Brothers who guided us in Kamchatka said there are around 20,000 Muslims in the region. The Muslims are said mostly to be Azerbaijanis, Meskhetian Turks, Uzbeks, Tatars, Tajiks, Daghestani and Chechens. The Muslims here have nowhere to hold mass prayers. They turned a flat in the entrance floor of an old building allocated by the state into a masjid. This masjid is so small that it can only host 40 people at the same time.
The state allocated a land for the construction of a mosque, however, Muslims could not complete its construction due to various reasons although they had laid its foundation. Upon this, the state took this land away from the hands of the Muslims and constructed a sports complex there. In 2006, the state allocated another land to the Muslims for construction of a mosque. This land is located in the busiest area of the city; however, Muslims could not construct a mosque here, either. They now fear that this piece of land will also be taken away from them and they will be asked to construct a mosque in an area which is far away from the city center. Leading Muslims in Kamchatka agree that the construction of a mosque should begin as soon as possible.
We suffered from jet lag
When we returned back to our hotel, I started perhaps the longest night of my life. Due to time difference, I could not sleep for a long while. While it was 2 am in Kamchatka, it was 5 pm in İstanbul. All through the night, I stayed awake. When I fell into sleep and slept for only two hours, I woke up. I felt the effects of the jet lag all through the day. I felt very tired at noon. Trying to endure the effects of the jet lag until the evening, we went to our rooms at the hotel in the evening. The following day was the eve of the Eid.
Eid eve and snow
When we woke up on Eid eve, a surprise was waiting for us outside. When we look from the window of our hotel room, we saw that all the ground was covered with snow. To be frank, this was not something we wanted to happen while we were here. Because when it begins snowing here, it seems as if it will never stop. Flights are postponed to an indefinite day, paralyzing daily life. I do not want to face with any problems with regard to snow and return to Turkey on the third day of the Eid al-Adha as planned.
Wearing warm clothes, I went out. It was not snowing heavily but there was a snowstorm from time to time. It was not very much easy to walk against the blowing wind. There is only one main street in the city. Addresses are given here according to this main street. Due to snow, there are people only in this street. Snow removal can only be done in few surface streets. I can hardly walk under snow. It is so difficult to see due to the snowstorms. It is possible to see a distance of 50 meters at most. My morning walk lasts for only 20 minutes and I quickly return back to the hotel. When I look from the window of my hotel room, I understand once again why this region is named as the “country of ice and fire.” Here is a land of glaciers which hosts tens of volcanoes which are ready to erupt at any moment.
It seems that we will have to stay at the hotel throughout the Eid eve due to snow. We planned to go and see the sacrificial animals but it does not seem very likely to do this. In order to keep our work go on, we call our brothers in the region who would help us with the sacrifice of animals. We learn from them that snow which seems very challenging for us is a usual thing here. They tell us that there is no problem about the sacrificial animals and the food that will be distributed. We get a sigh of relief.
We’ll celebrate Eid early
Allah willing, while the entire Islamic world is in sleep tomorrow, we will hold Eid prayers with our Muslim brothers here tomorrow. In the moments we hold Eid prayers, the Muslims in Turkey will be on the Eid eve and it will be around 10 pm. We are really excited. As the members of the IHH team, we are really excited about holding Eid prayers before other Muslims of the world.
Hours before the Eid al-Adha, we go to see the animals donated by Turkish charity givers to be sacrificed here. A list families who will be distributed meat and food as well as the list of orphans who will be provided aid is ready. We are ready to observe Eid al-Adha!
