The construction of the mosque, which was halted because it was likened to a church, was completed 18 years later

Construction of Molla Halil Mosque in Karşıyaka Neighborhood of Ortahisar district in Trabzon, which started in 2006 and was temporarily stopped due to a halt in donations because of its architecture resembling a church, was completed after necessary modifications and opened for worship. Speaking on the matter, President of Karşıyaka Molla Halil Mosque Construction and Preservation Association, Bilal Şahin, stated that the criticized appearance of the minarets was altered to be in line with Ottoman architecture, looking pleasing to the eye, and thus achieving a more beautiful appearance. Şahin emphasized that the minaret of the mosque was built in accordance with its original architectural style, mentioning that it was constructed on the demolished old mosque association building site. He explained that the construction was halted for a while after the funds ran out, but eventually, with the help of donations from both domestic and international sources, the mosque was completed and started serving as a beautiful place of worship. He expressed gratitude to everyone who contributed to the project, even completing the mosque during the pandemic period. Regarding the criticism received, he highlighted that the minarets were constructed in accordance with Ottoman architecture to appeal aesthetically. He mentioned that despite facing criticism and being compared to a church, the mosque was designed with worship in mind, and upon completion, it served its purpose beautifully. The minarets were modified by adding smaller minarets to form a rounded dome and extending and sharpening the front two minarets to fit the general appearance of traditional Ottoman architecture, which was considered more appealing. A local resident, Celal Tütenk, praised the mosque’s beautiful architecture and expressed confusion over the criticism regarding the minarets resembling a church, ultimately concluding that the mosque turned out to be beautiful. Another resident, Buğra Çağlar, complimented the inner and outer beauty of the mosque, noting the positive transformation and improvement in the design, particularly appreciating the enhanced appearance of the minarets.