Taksim’s only constant: the mosque debate
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Radikal
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Mayıs 23, 2009 00:00
ISTANBUL - Though a reconstruction plan to protect Istanbul’s historical Beyoğlu district was approved by the metropolitan municipality’s assembly after 16 years in the works, a detail in the plan has inflamed debate about whether to build a mosque in Taksim Square.
The reconstruction plan includes a "religious facility" in place of the current mescit, or prayer room, near the historical water depot, which gives its name to the neighborhood, Taksim. This reconstruction plan lead to concerns that a medium- or large-sized mosque would be built instead of a small prayer room.
A 32-year-old decision
"Whether to allocate a new place for a religious facility in Taksim is not in question. There is already a little mosque there. The decision that a mosque can be built instead of the mescit is a 32-year-old decision," the municipality stated Thursday.
But Eyüp Muhçu, the head of Chamber of Architects’ Istanbul branch, is worried. "The area including the mescit and the part adjacent to the historical water depot is detailed as the religious facility area in the plan," he said.
"This area is not suitable to build a mosque. To build one, other nearby buildings would have to be destroyed as well."
Istanbul Mayor Kadir Topbaş must sign the plan for it to be put into effect. After Topbaş gives his approval to the plan, it will be held for a month for any objections.
Then, if there are no objections, work on the plans can commence. Sefer Kocabaş, the head of the municipality’s reconstruction branch, said it was not the municipal assembly but the monuments council that would decide whether to build a mosque in that area.
A 32-year-old decision
"Whether to allocate a new place for a religious facility in Taksim is not in question. There is already a little mosque there. The decision that a mosque can be built instead of the mescit is a 32-year-old decision," the municipality stated Thursday.
But Eyüp Muhçu, the head of Chamber of Architects’ Istanbul branch, is worried. "The area including the mescit and the part adjacent to the historical water depot is detailed as the religious facility area in the plan," he said.
"This area is not suitable to build a mosque. To build one, other nearby buildings would have to be destroyed as well."
Istanbul Mayor Kadir Topbaş must sign the plan for it to be put into effect. After Topbaş gives his approval to the plan, it will be held for a month for any objections.
Then, if there are no objections, work on the plans can commence. Sefer Kocabaş, the head of the municipality’s reconstruction branch, said it was not the municipal assembly but the monuments council that would decide whether to build a mosque in that area.