Halfeti’s Ulu Mosque to ‘resurface’

ŞANLIURFA – Anadolu Agency

The historic Ulu Mosque, some parts of which were flooded because of the Birecik Dam, will come to the surface again with a restoration process to be carried out with special technics. 

After the restoration, the mosque in the southeastern province of Şanlıurfa’s Halfeti district will be open to worshippers and tourists. 

Halfeti was declared a slow city in 2013 by the Cittaslow General Committee and thence became a popular place for tourists. 

Many tourists are interested in the 209-year-old Ulu Mosque, 40 centimeters of which has remained underwater since 2001. 

The Halfeti District Governor’s Office has initiated works for the mosque, which was built with cut stone and includes three halls. Within the scope of the restoration project, the ground of the mosque will be raised. 

Halfeti District Governor Mutlu Köksal said, “The project has been carefully prepared to prevent any damage to the originality of the mosque. It has been approved by the relevant committees.”