Turkey's Presidency of Religious Affairs organized a Holy Birth Week event under the theme of "Prophet Muhammad and the ethics of coexistence" in Istanbul Congress Center on Sunday, which saw President Erdoğan and First Lady Emine Erdoğan, Parliamentary Speaker Cemil Çiçek, Prime Minister Davutoğlu and his wife Sare Davutoğlu, and main opposition party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu come together.

The head of the Presidency of Religious Affairs, Mehmet Görmez, gave a speech in which he said with regret that mankind is failing to manage multiculturalism. He reminded reporters that every year a theme is determined for the Holy Birth Week and disclosed to the public, and added, "we take particular care to carry themes that are important for our social and social lives during the Holy Birth Week and get the people to familiarize themselves with ageless and compassion-laden messages of the Prophet."

Mentioning "deep pains" and "heart breaking incidents" in the world, especially in Islamic lands, he gave a reminder about the messages of compassion of the Quran and the teachings of the Prophet that invites humanity to peace.

Görmez then invited the gathered protocol to the floor and gave roses to them. Goodwill gestures between the leaders of the two main parties, Davutoğlu and Kılıçdaroğlu, who are currently in a tight race before the June 7 elections, drew particular attention. When Görmez was heading to give Davutoğlu a rose, Davutoğlu pointed at Kılıçdaroğlu so that Görmez would give the rose to Kılıçdaroğlu first. In response, Kılıçdaroğlu did the same thing and Görmez gave the rose to Davutoğlu first. Erdoğan and Kılıçdaroğlu also shook their hands at the opening ceremony.

The birth of Prophet Muhammad is celebrated throughout world with a series of festivities.