Çamlıca Republic Mosque

Çamlıca Republic Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, is the largest mosque in Asia Minor and was inaugurated on 1 July 2016. Çamlıca Mosque is able to accommodate 37,500 people, and includes a museum, art gallery, library, conference hall, and underground parking lot.

Çamlıca Mosque was designed by two female architects, Bahar Mızrak and Hayriye Gül Totu, at a cost of around TL 150 million.The mosque is one of a number of megaprojects built by the Turkish government to show the strength of the economy and provide a legacy for the governing AK Party. Turkish President Erdoğan said at its inauguration : “When a horse dies it leaves behind its saddle, when a man dies he leaves behind his works. We will be remembered for this.” Turkish analyst Ziya Meral told The Times that “This is about cultural diplomacy and a vision of Turkey’s role in the world”.