Mesut Tufan

From Muslims in Bosnia-Herzegovina to Christians in Lebanon, from the Bektashis of Macedonia to the Syriacs of Turkey, director Jacques Debs helps us discover two groups of people long forgotten or ignored - the Muslims in Europe and the Christians in the Middle East.

İstanbul’s religious music scene has always been tremendously assorted and colourful since the city was not only the capital of empires, but also the heart of main monotheistic religions. On this scene, Hellenes, Jews, Armenians, Syriacs, and Muslims contributed to and significantly nourished each other. Regardless of whoever influenced or affected whom, followers of different religions have had a convergence, a common art and style of expression throughout history. Music that brings humans together and connects them with the divine, despite different languages and religions, has been the most essential, effective, and dominant expression throughout history. Art, in that respect, happens to be our common cultural heritage as the most virtual product that humanity has brought forth.