Marble urinals in historic mosque in northwest Turkey removed

KOCAELİ – Anadolu Agency

DHA Photo

Marble urinals installed in the 505-year-old Çoban Mustafa Paşa Mosque in the northwestern province of Kocaeli’s Gebze district, which had caused a furor as they did not fit the “historical tissue” of the mosque complex, have subsequently been removed. 

In a written statement, the General Directorate of Foundations said news the urinals and washbasins had been installed by the directorate was not true. 

The statement said the General Directorate of Foundations had carried out the restoration of more than 4,000 structures over the last 10 years and the restorations were realized in accordance with the projects approved by the Cultural and Natural Heritage Conservation Board. 

“The restoration of the historical Çoban Mustafa Paşa Mosque complex was made between 2011 and 2014 and the mosque opened to service on Jan. 2, 2015. The urinals, which were installed in the mosque later, were not an application of the directorate,” said the statement. 

Urinals removed 

The General Directorate of Foundations said the relevant regional directorate had been warned the Çoban Mustafa Paşa Mosque was a registered historical artifact and any alteration or work at the site should be approved by the Cultural and Natural Heritage Conservation Board. 

“The urinals, which do not match the historical tissue [of the mosque complex] and are not included in the project, were installed without the knowledge of our directorate. They were removed on Jan. 4. Possible corrosion on the wall caused by the marble urinals was also addressed and work was begun to restore it,” added the statement.