Remains from Süleyman Şah tomb placed temporarily in southeastern Turkey

ŞANLIURFA - Anadolu Agency

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The symbolic sarcophagi of Süleyman Şah and his two guards was placed in a temporary tomb in the southeastern province of Şanlurfa with a ceremony on Feb. 23, as construction continues in Syria’s Ashme region, where the artifacts will be transferred permanently.

The remains and relics were taken to Turkey from their original place some 37 kilometers away from the Turkey-Syria border in an operation in which 44 soldiers guarding the tomb were also evacuated over concerns of a potential threat from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

A room separated from other buildings in the border post in the Birecik district has been designated as a temporary tomb. A ceremony was held after the relics had been moved, which began with a moment of silence and the Turkish national anthem. Turkish soldiers paid their respects with a gun salute during the ceremony. The Turkish flag was also hoisted outside its entrance.

The müfti of Şanlıurfa, İhsan Açık, prayed and read from the Quran as earth taken from the tomb’s previous location was placed next to the symbolic sarcophagi.

Turkey has secured another area in Ashme for the new location of the tomb, which is about one kilometer away from the border.