On September 22, the Gayaz Iskhaki Tatar Library was ceremoniously reopened in the historical center of Antalya, opposite the city’s landmark, Hadrian’s Gate, in the Aybike Hatun Café building.
The event was attended by representatives of both the Tatar and Turkish communities. The library was organized by the Union of Tatars of Turkey, Tatar enthusiasts, national movement representatives, and activists from the “Azatlyk” Tatar Youth Union.
Currently, the library houses around 300 books. Most of them are in Tatar: history, literature, journalism, and language learning materials. A special section is dedicated to the works of Ayaz Iskhaki, including his books such as Zuleikha and After Two Hundred Years, as well as collections of his essays. There are also books in Turkish written about or by Tatars, such as works by Yusuf Akçura, Sadri Maksudi, and translations of Ayaz Iskhaki’s books. The library will be open every day from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Visitors can borrow books or read on-site, enjoying tea and relaxation.
Nail Nabiullin, the organizer of the library, noted that there are plans to increase the number of books and expand its activities.
“This year marks the 70th anniversary of the death of our great leader, Ayaz Iskhaki. This great loss still deeply pains our hearts and remains an open wound in the soul of the Tatar people. We are commemorating the 70th anniversary of our great leader’s passing with emotion, because we have many plans to restore the name of Iskhaki to our people and to immortalize his legacy in his homeland. In 2023, we opened Tatar libraries named after Iskhaki in Istanbul and Antalya. This year, during Ramadan, we also established one in Ankara. After a short break, our library in Antalya will resume serving our community with renewed energy. In the future, we will strive to increase the number of books. It should be noted that all these efforts are carried out solely with enthusiasm and with our own funds.
Our leader dedicated his entire conscious life to the interests of the nation, fighting for its security and bright future. In his spiritual will, written before his death, Ayaz Iskhaki emphasized the importance of uniting his scattered compatriots around the national idea and developing them as the most important national task for future generations. Now, at the beginning of the 21st century, fulfilling this task has become a cause for all Tatars. Undoubtedly, Ayaz Iskhaki’s works, struggles, and dreams are a source of spiritual strength for us.
Ayaz Iskhaki is a phenomenon in the Tatar nation. This great individual, who dedicated his entire life to freedom and serving the Tatar people, left us a rich legacy. As a fighter and writer, he strived to unite the Tatars, scattered across different regions, and on this foundation, save our people, who had been in danger of extinction for centuries. He invested a tremendous amount of effort and work into this cause. Today, his actions, ideas, and words remain highly relevant.
We are trying to continue the work that Ayaz abyi (brother Ayaz) started, following the path of his ideas and dreams. His goals inspire us, and we hope that we too can be worthy of Ayaz abyi’s name and legacy,” said Nail Nabiullin.
The event featured traditional Tatar dishes, including echpochmak, chak-chak, and herbal tea with thyme. The gathering concluded with a rendition of the song “Tugan Tel.”