Hacı Fahri Öksüz Mosque Damaged in Earthquake

In Hatay, hit by the earthquake, hundreds of buildings around were demolished, but the affected citizens continue their prayers at Hacı Fahri Öksüz Mosque. Hatay, which was most affected by the earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş, witnessed many buildings being destroyed. In the disaster of the century, many places of worship were also damaged and suffered severe wounds.

Prayers Continue in the Mosque with a Collapsed Minaret

Despite the collapse of the minaret of Hacı Fahri Öksüz Mosque, one of the 4 out of 180 mosques that survived the earthquakes, it was stated that the mosque managed to stand after the earthquakes. Mosque imam Hüseyin Kahraman said, “Our mosque was opened in 2004. This is a 19-year-old mosque. While the Antakya district turned into ruins in the earthquakes, the minaret of our mosque collapsed. In the earthquakes, the Quran course, imam’s residence, ablution place, and fountain in the mosque premises were also destroyed. In Antakya city center, out of 180 mosques, only 4 mosques remain. Apart from this, there is no other mosque. Unfortunately, there is no mosque for people to worship except for container cities and tent cities. We are continuing without a minaret. We are waiting for the construction of the Quran course, the imam’s residence, ablution places, and the minaret in the premises of our mosque from the benefactors,” he said.

Imam Kahraman, who stated that the minaret of the mosque collapsed in the earthquake, said, “Although there is a lack of mosques in Antakya, those who built our mosque made it sturdy. Our minaret collapsed in the earthquake but the mosque remained standing. Unfortunately, people do not have mosques to worship. We experienced the earthquake here. When we went out with our children in the earthquake, the minaret of the mosque had not collapsed. On the same day, 1 hour after the earthquake, there was an aftershock of 5.8. It collapsed at that time, we assume. Because when I talked to friends at 07:30 in the morning, the minaret had collapsed,” he said.

Nizamettin Şenal, who performs his prayers in the mosque without a minaret, said, “Thanks to Allah, we performed our prayers in the mosque without a minaret. I looked at the mosque but couldn’t see the minaret. They will try to build this minaret as well. The minaret of this mosque collapsed in the earthquake. This minaret collapsed in the first earthquake,” he stated.