Taksim mosque nears completion, set to open in 2018
ISTANBUL – Doğan News Agency
The construction of a giant mosque in the heart of Istanbul, in the historic Taksim square, is close to completion, as 85 percent of the structure has already been finished.
The mosque, which began to take shape in 2017, is expected to open for prayer in 2018 after the dome is covered with concrete, which is expected to happen in the following days.
After the main structure is finished, the interior of the mosque will be built next. The minarets will be the final task for construction.
When completed, its height, excluding the minarets, will be around 30 meters—the same as the two historical churches in the area.
The complex will also have a conference hall, while its underground area will be used as a covered parking space with a 180-vehicle capacity.
The controversial plan has been in the works for decades. The court had previously objected to the construction of the mosque, as it had ruled it would be “against public benefit.”
The plot of land where the mosque has been constructed is currently owned by the General Directorate of Foundations.
Prior to the beginning of its construction, the area had been used as a waiting point for riot police.
