Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made two promises that were especially significant to his supporters: He would open the Hagia Sophia as a mosque and build a mosque in Taksim Square. Now he is delivering on one of them.
On Feb. 17 in Taksim Square, the heart of Istanbul, officials held a ceremony to celebrate the launch of the Taksim mosque construction project. The mosque is expected to open for service during Ramadan in 2018 (mid-May to mid-June). Conservative segments of society have sought the mosque since 1968, as Istanbul Mayor Kadir Topbas explained during the groundbreaking ceremony. Despite serious fears of protests, none materialized. In fact, there was only a small crowd cheering for the project that’s the crown jewel of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). It was indeed a low-key event, with more police and workers present than spectators.
Al-Monitor asked art historian Murat Ozer about the significance of the mosque. Ozer, who is chairman of the nongovernmental organization Imkander, was candid. “Since the conquest of Istanbul [in 1453], mosques have been erected all around the city, particularly around the palace and in the districts frequented by Muslims," he said. Though the area where Taksim Square now stands was historically considered a non-Muslim area, "By the 17th and 18th centuries, the population changed and Muslims in the area needed a mosque. Hence a mosque and barracks were built at the location where today the new mosque is being built. After the establishment of the Republic, the barracks and the mosque were demolished to make room for a big public square like in all major European cities.”
Ozer’s analysis, as well as Al-Monitor’s previous reporting, shows that the Taksim district has always been a contested area among people of different political views. The many battles for Istanbul’s soul have always left their distinctive marks on the district. Although there are about a hundred mosques in the Beyoglu district, there are only three around Taksim Square. Ozer, along with observant Muslims, argues that three mosques cannot serve the densely populated streets there.
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