Erdoğan opens Taksim Mosque to worship: ‘A dream of 150 years’
* Photo: AKP Twitter account
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The mosque built in Taksim Square in İstanbul's Beyoğlu district was opened with a ceremony earlier today (May 28).
While ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also attended the opening ceremony, tons of rose water sent by Isparta Municipality was sprayed at the square.
Amid the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, it was seen that large crowds gathered at the ceremony without social distancing.
'A struggle for 1.5 centuries'
Making a speech at the opening ceremony, Erdoğan said that "İstanbul has been granted the Taksim Mosque after a struggle for 1.5 centuries." He added, "How much this place suffered, how much..."
Addressing the crowd at the mosque near Gezi Park, Erdoğan also targeted the Gezi Resistance of 2013. Pointing at Gezi Park, he said:
"When we took action again in 2013, we were faced with the Gezi incidents. Gezi incidents... The moment when those terrorists stood up against us.
"We rolled up our sleeves again after July 15 [coup attempt in 2016]. Completing the necessary preparations quickly, we started constructing the mosque in June 2017. And, here we are today, opening our mosque to worship with allahu akbars, salawats and prayers."
Erdoğan also said that "the Taksim Mosque will be one of the most important culture-art centers of İstanbul."
Mosque in Beşiktaş
Reminding the crowd that they are also building a mosque on Barbaros Boulevard in Beşiktaş, Erdoğan said, "Yet another work of ours is rising quickly. We are building the Hayreddin Barbarossa Mosque. We will complete it in a short period of time, too." Concluding his remarks, Erdoğan said, "Our nation's dream of 150 years has come true today." (DŞ/SD)