A mosque in Istanbul is creating social media buzz with its cat-friendly attitude. Stray cats looking for warmth and shelter on cold winter nights are always welcome at Aziz Mahmud Hüdayi Mosque in the city’s historical Üsküdar district.
Photographs of Mustafa Efe, the mosque’s imam (leader), playing with the feline visitors have gone viral online. According to news reports, he started allowing stray cats inside the place of worship last year, to help them escape the cold weather. The imam is apparently well-known for his good humor, diligence, and kindness towards animals.
Efe posted a few pictures and videos of the cats on his own Facebook page and one clip actually shows a mother cat carrying her babies in her mouth, one-by-one, into the mosque. “Our mosque’s Friday guests,” the imam wrote. “A surprise awaiting us at the sermon today. The kitty has found the heart of compassion and mercy.”
Photo: Naveed/Twitter
The kind man of faith reportedly calls the cats ‘guests’ of the mosque, and as you can see in the photos, he always treats them with kindness and affection, although I suspect a good meal is also provided.
Photos: Mustafa Efe (left)/Mohammed Matter (right)
Photo: Kuzeyin Huysuz Kizi
Photo: Ibrahim Duzkalem
Photo: Naveed
Photo: Mustafa Efe
Photo: Mustafa Efe
Photo: Mustafa Efe
Greek café ‘Hot Spot’ was recently in the news for its kindness towards stray dogs. An employee let a stranded dog in one night in July, and since then, it became a regular practice to have stray dogs bunk on their couches every night.
via Daily Sabah
