Murat Tecimen cycles from Çanakkale to Mecca for Umrah pilgrimage

Murat Tecimen, a 43-year-old resident of Çanakkale, has begun a 4,000-kilometer bicycle journey to Mecca to perform the Umrah pilgrimage. Aiming to complete the trip in 40 days by cycling approximately 100 kilometers daily, Tecimen departed following a ceremony at Dumlupınar Mosque where he was sent off with prayers by Provincial Mufti Mevlüt Topçu.

During a stop in the Karapınar district of Konya, Tecimen experienced local hospitality when a bicycle mechanic refused to accept payment for repairing his bike after learning the spiritual purpose of his journey. Tecimen described the expedition as a test of patience, gratitude, and submission, noting that he chose to travel by bicycle to undertake the journey through physical effort and prayer rather than using faster means of transport.