A philanthropic citizen built a mosque in Hatay, which was hit by an earthquake

A 300-person capacity mosque, built by a generous citizen in place of the mosque destroyed in the earthquake in the Antakya district of Hatay, has been opened for worship.

In Hatay, which suffered the most destruction in earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş, thousands of buildings were razed to the ground. Approximately 25,000 people lost their lives in the disaster of the century, and many mosques and historic buildings were destroyed. The mosque and tomb located in Saraycık Neighborhood of Antakya district of Hatay collapsed in the first seconds of the earthquakes on February 6. With the support of the state and philanthropists, the wounds of the disaster of the century continue to be healed. Following the earthquake, philanthropist Ahmet Koyuncu, who came from Kayseri to Hatay, wanted to build a new mosque in the neighborhood where the mosque was destroyed. In line with the protocol between Philanthropist Koyuncu and the Turkey Diyanet Foundation Hatay Branch, the construction of the ‘Saraycık Neighborhood Yahyalılı Emine Koyuncu Mosque’ was completed and opened for worship. The first Friday prayer was performed in the steel construction mosque with a capacity of 300 people. Hatay Governor Mustafa Masatlı, the philanthropist Koyuncu family, and citizens attended the opening of the mosque. After the Friday prayer, the attendees were served a meal.

Hatay Governor Mustafa Masatlı, emphasizing the need for the behavior to set an example for people, said, ‘Mr. Ahmet Koyuncu from Kayseri signed a protocol with us to build a mosque in the name of his late wife Emine Koyuncu in Saraycık Neighborhood. Today, they completed the mosque. Today, we performed the Friday prayer here. We thank all philanthropists. I hope this mosque brings goodness to our Saraycık Neighborhood, Antakya, and Hatay. We hope that such philanthropic behaviors will be taken as an example and exhibited by people.’

Saraycık Neighborhood Headman Yakup Yılmaz, who said that the mosque collapsed in the earthquakes, stated, ‘Our mosque collapsed in the earthquakes. Philanthropist Ahmet Koyuncu has gifted such a beauty and religious facility to Saraycık Neighborhood in the name of his wife and children. We completely rebuilt our mosque from scratch. It collapsed because the minaret of the mosque fell in the earthquake. Our mosque was entirely made of steel. May our new mosque bring goodness and blessings to our neighborhood.’

‘We love our current mosque very much, and it turned out very beautiful.’
Expressing their gratitude to the philanthropist who built the mosque, mosque attendee Mehmet Yılmaz said, ‘Our old mosque was leaking from the roofs. It was a very old mosque. There were leaks in the foundations, and the irons were exposed. Even without an earthquake, it was dangerous. The earthquake became an excuse for the mosque. Its minaret, dome, and side walls were heavily damaged. Therefore, we needed a new mosque. May Allah be pleased with the one who built our new mosque. We are very satisfied. We love our current mosque very much, and it turned out very beautiful.’