Historic mosque to be reunited with its stolen tiles after 20 years

Located in the Ali Paşa neighborhood of the central Sur district, the mosque was built between 1534 and 1537 by Hadım Ali Paşa, who served as the Governor of Diyarbakır during the Ottoman period, and stands as one of the city's iconic landmarks due to its historical significance and architectural structure.

The historic mosque was damaged in the earthquakes that occurred on February 6, 2023. The restoration, which was initiated at the mosque under the ownership and protection of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism's General Directorate of Foundations, is being carried out under the supervision of a scientific committee.

While the restoration is ongoing, 136 tiles that were removed and stolen from the mosque's interior walls in 2004 and later seized in Istanbul have been brought back to Diyarbakır.

Following conservation work, the tiles will be placed back in their original locations within the mosque, concurrent with the restoration efforts. With the work planned to be completed by the end of this year, the ancestral mosque will be reopened for worship. ,

Diyarbakır Regional Director of Foundations Hakan Demir stated that the mosque, one of the unique examples of the Ottoman period, is also known as a work of Mimar Sinan.

Expressing that the mosque was damaged in the Kahramanmaraş-centered earthquakes, Demir noted that the work they initiated to repair the damage and reunite the structure with its original elements is continuing.

Stating that the restoration is being carried out under the supervision of a scientific committee consisting of experts from various universities, Demir conveyed that they aim to complete the work by the end of this year.

'THEY WILL BE PLACED IN THEIR ORIGINAL LOCATIONS'

Noting that 136 of the tiles on the interior walls of the historic mosque were stolen in 2004 and that some were damaged, Demir said, "The 136 tiles seized in Istanbul were brought back to our mosque as a result of the meticulous work of our Ministry and our General Directorate. Our expert teams are performing the conservation of the tiles.

At the end of these processes, the tiles will be placed in their original locations. The return of the stolen tiles should not be seen as a simple completion. This also means the reconstruction of a historical and cultural integrity and the recovery of a traditional treasure."

News Source: AA