Turkey Declares Nine-day Public Holiday For Feast Of Sacrifice Week

Turkey has declared a nine-day public holiday starting from Sept. 19 over Feast of Sacrifice, with a half day off for public employees falling on Sept. 23.

Civil servants will be granted leave on Sept. 21, 22, and a half day on Sept. 23, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu's office said in a written statement.

"All employees working at public institutions will be on leave for the whole day on Sept. 21 and 22, and half day on Sept. 23, as long as administrative officials keep sufficient personnel on duty so as to not cause a halt to the usual workflow" the statement said.

The four-day Feast of Sacrifice, the second of two religious holidays celebrated by Muslims worldwide, will start on Sept. 24.

Thousands of Turks traditionally travel to their hometowns to spend time with their families during the holiday, which has in recent years seen increased traffic accidents across the country due to mass traveling.