Turkey restores 11 historic structures struck by clashes in southeast

MARDIN - Anadolu Agency

Turkey has completed the restoration of 11 out of 23 historic structures in southeastern provinces struck by clashes between the security forces and outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) militants.

Many of the historic sites, including mosques and churches in the provinces of Diyarbakır and Mardin, were severely damaged in deadly clashes that broke out after the collapse of a peace process in summer 2015.

The restored structures include the Zeynel Abidin Mosque and the Hasırlı Mosque.

Restoration of the remaining sites, including the Fatih Pasha Mosque (also known as the Kurşunlu Mosque), the Armenian Catholic Church, the Selman Pak Mosque and a shrine in Diyarbakır will be completed by the end of 2018.

The Prime Ministry’s Directorate General of Foundations is undertaking the restoration work.

Metin Evsen, regional head of the directorate, told state-run Anadolu Agency that work would continue until completion of the restoration.

“In Mardin’s Nusaybin district three structures were damaged. We have completed restoration of the Zeynel Abidin Mosque and its complex. Including the three in Mardin, 23 structures were damaged in total during clashes. Most of the restoration work has been completed and we will complete restoration of the remaining 12 structures during 2018,” Evsen said.

“We have restored both mosques and churches. Of the four churches damaged in [Diyarbakır’s] Suriçi, two belonged to the Directorate General of Foundations. The restoration of the Armenian Protestant Church has been completed and opened and we plan to complete the restoration of Armenian Catholic Church within 2018,” he added.