Turkey: Work Commences on 'Erdogan the Magnificent' Mosque

ANSA News ^ | 4/3/13

[marshmallow]

On hill over the Bosphorus, highest minarets in the world

(ANSAmed) - ANKARA, APRIL 3 - Polemics, accusations, and sarcasm have failed to put a damper on Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's plans to build an enormous mosque towering over the Bosphorus.

The mosque will be gigantic, covering a surface area of some 15,000 square meters on the Camlica hill on Istanbul's Asian side, with another 250,000 square meters housing a park, museum, bar, restaurants, amusement park, and a terrace with a breathtaking view over the Bosphorus and Byzantine and Muslim Istanbul. Erdogan had announced the project a year ago, saying that the ''enormous'' mosque would be ''visible from anywhere in the city'' with ''the highest minarets in the world''.

In the eyes of opposition secularist Turks, Erdogan - who is referred to as 'the new sultan' by many - would like to leave his mark on the city in the tradition of the caliphs of the past. His mosque will be endowed with six minarets instead of two, a distinction of which thus far only Istanbul's famous Blue Mosque can boast.

''There are many places in Istanbul where a mosque could be built, but they want to send a message,'' Hurriyet was told by the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) MP Mehmet Ali Ediboglu. ''The message is that they want to build an Islamic republic in the place of the secular system. That's what they are doing, step by step''. Erdogan's Turkey cannot be said to be lacking in mosques.

[dfwgator]

with ''the highest minarets in the world''.

"Drop your bombs between the minarets..."

[Mmogamer]

It will never outshine the glory that was Hagia Sophia.

[boomop1]

The home of the Islamic Anti Christ.

[dfwgator]

Ataturk is rolling over in his grave.

[Jimmy Valentine]

Erdogan is playing a very foolish game. If the islamists take over the first thing that will go is his head. Then Turkey will slide backwards over 100 years in about 8 months.

For an example please see Iran.

[BlueDragon]

Shariff won’t like it.

[Lera]

Erdogan is playing a very foolish game. If the islamists take over the first thing that will go is his head. Then Turkey will slide backwards over 100 years in about 8 months. For an example please see Iran.

Erdogan is the one who is trying to islamize Turkey.

[SunkenCiv]

Once Turkey gets torn to pieces by the same kind of civil war seen in Lebanon and Syria, some jihadist bozos will level the place.

Thanks marshmallow.

[bigheadfred]

Have to vent....If ya are to damn lazy to strap your kid into a carseat that takes two freaking seconds to do then don't drive by me or let me see it cuz I will say something good gawd lazy people and why set the kid on your lap or in the seat by you or better yet let him standup in the car but hey you'll be the first one to freakout when you wreck and the kid fly's through the window come on people take a second and buckle your kid in...Hmmmm...there was something that happened in Turkey 'bout a 100 years ago.

[annalex]

Coastal “Turkey” is land stolen from Christians. Thanks for the effort.

[rmlew]

Anyone else thing that Erdogan wants to be Sultan and Caliph?

[married21]

In wanting to restore the glory days of the empire, is Erdogan/Turkey kind of like Putin/Russia? Wonder if Russia will plan some big new cathedral?

[SunkenCiv]

There will be a Russian-assisted dismantling of Turkey, just as there has been in Syria. Erdogan will play Assad and not succumb for some time.

[Lera]

Anyone else thing that Erdogan wants to be Sultan and Caliph?

That is exactly what he wants .

[Jimmy Valentine]

As the Chinese say,"It is easy to grab a tiger by the ears. The problem is how then to let go."

In almost every revolution, after the former government is overthrown, the first to get killed are the revolutionaries. Erdogam may wind up like Robespierre.

[Jimmy Valentine]

The Russians still dream of controlling the Bosphorus and the Dardenelles and have since Peter The Great. If Turkey destabilizes, watch out.