PodcastMosque being built on multi-billion liras worth of land in Istanbul's Levent
The construction of an Istanbul mosque has begun on a multi-billion liras worth of land in Levent -- the city's prime business district. The construction started after the government transferred the ownership of the land from the Central Bank to the Urbanization Ministry. The construction is being undertaken by a former AKP deputy's company.
Duvar English
The construction of a new mosque in Istanbul has begun on a land previously owned by the Central Bank in the prime business district of Levent -- where the price of real estate is quite high. A construction banner was put on the area on Feb. 26.
The mosque is being built by the construction company “ASL İnşaat,” owned by Abdülkadir Kart, a former deputy of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), daily Sözcü reported.
“ASL İnşaat” was also one of the firms that undertook the construction of the Başakşehir Stadium in Istanbul, a commuter railway called Geziray in the southeastern province of Gaziantep and an Istanbul dormitory run by the Turkish Youth and Education Service Foundation (TÜRGEV).
Municipality approves change on zoning plan despite Central Bank's objections
In 2015, the Beşiktaş Muftiate applied to the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, demanding a change in the zoning plan of the land owned by the Central Bank in Levent.
Despite an objection filed by the Central Bank, the Istanbul Municipal Council, in which the AKP held the majority, approved to change the zoning status of the 18,427 square meters land from “business area” to “partially worship area and partially cultural facility area.”
In 2017, the change in the zoning plan also received a green light from the Culture and Tourism Ministry's relevant protection boards. The ownership of the land was eventually transferred to the General Directorate of National Estate under the Environment and Urbanization Ministry for the construction of the mosque to start.
The mosque -- which will cost 159,7 million Turkish Liras (approximately $26 million) -- will rise on an area of 5,744 square meters. Its construction will take two years and it will accommodate up to 20,000 worshipers.