Turkey to build first ‘star and crescent’ mosque in Sivas

The foundation was laid for Turkey’s first “Star and Crescent”-shaped mosque on Monday in the province of Sivas, following a ceremony attended by numerous officials.

With a capacity of 8,400 worshippers, the mosque extends to cover a closed area of 7,000 square meters.

Attending the ceremony was Sivas Governor Davut Gül, Justice and Development (AK) Party lawmakers Mahmet Habip Soluk and Selim Dursun, Sivas Municipality head Sami Aydın, among others, in addition to a large number of citizens who took part in the ceremony.

The ceremony began with the recitation of Muslim holy book the Quran and later Sivas Governor Davut Gül expressed his pleasure for being part of the ceremony for such a beneficial project that will benefit neighborhood residents and serve as a venue for funerals.

Head of the Sivas Municipality Sami Aydın stressed the need to view this planned monument as not just a mosque, noting that this project will significantly relieve traffic in the city center due to the fact that the majority of funerals are held at the Ulu Mosque.

“We planned this project by taking the needs of our citizens into consideration. We founded an association for everyone who is willing to contribute a small share in this project. Our goal is to open the mosque in 2018. ” said Aydın.

Following the speeches and prayers, the foundation was laid for the Yukarı Tekke Ayyıldız Mosque, which is due to be completed in mid-2018.