Sulaymaniyah mosque hosts 1,500-guest Mawlid program at mosque founded in 1959

SULAYMANIYAH, Iraq — Serchinari Grand Mosque, founded in 1959 in Sulaymaniyah, hosted a Mawlid al-Nabi program attended by 1,500 people, including an iftar meal, mosque imam Sheikh Birhem Serchinari said. The event brought together Muslims from different sects and ethnic backgrounds for religious talks and poetry on the life and moral teachings of the Prophet Muhammad. Serchinari said the mosque has held Mawlid commemorations since its establishment. He added that Mawlid is observed by Muslims worldwide as a message of love, solidarity and unity, and is not limited to Sulaymaniyah or the Kurdistan Region. The imam said the program's aim was to translate the values of Mawlid into daily life, promoting compassion, tolerance and support for those in need. Across Sulaymaniyah, Mawlid events traditionally include remembrance circles, hymns, communal meals and charitable activities at mosques, neighborhoods and markets.