Centuries-Old Mosques in SE Turkey to Be Restored

TEHRAN (IQNA) – Centuries-old mosques dating back to the Seljuk and Ottoman empires located in southeastern Turkey's Sanliurfa province will be reopened for prayer after full-scale restorations that were recently initiated.

Restoration on five mosques in the city – which is a hub for religious tourism as it is believed to have been the home of seven prophets in the Jewish, Christian and Islamic faiths – was inaugurated by Sanliurfa Provincial Directorate for Foundations.

Within the scope of the restoration project, Doseme, Hekimdede, Birecik Magara and Siverek Karakeci Mosques will be restored along with the 800-year-old Pazar Mosque.

Directorate Chairman Mehmet Ali Palalı told Anadolu Agency that the city is one of the oldest cities in human history and has been home to many civilizations. He noted that the oldest and the most well-known mosques in Anatolia were built there.

The projects will meticulously restore the mosques' domes, minarets, roofs, walls and courtyards while reinforcement work will also be carried out.

"We are trying hard to take this civilization forward and transfer it to future generations," Palalı said.

The city of Sanliurfa is considered a treasure of history as the region was at different times home to the Sumerians, Babylonians, Hittite Empire, Romans, Seljuks and Ottoman Empire.

Source: The Daily Sabah