'We prayed tarawih on the grass'
Diyarbakir municipality HDP (Peoples Democratic Party) member has failed to reserve areas in zoning plans for mosques in the neighbourhood, which has led to a public outcry.
Diyarbakir municipality HDP member has opened new zoning area in Kayapinar but has failed to reserve space for mosque constructions.
Members of the neighborhood spoke to Ilke News Agency (ILKHA) regarding this issue. They stated that there are around 12,000 people living in the area and iterated that there are no mosques in the area. They remarked that Ramadan is upcoming and in order to carry out their daily prayers, they requested permission from municipality to build a mosque.
“We prayed tarawih on the grass”
Omer Koca from the neighbourhood indicated that the population of the district is as much as a city population and regardless of this they still cannot hear the adhan (call to prayer). The district requires a mosque said Koca, as the people of the neighbourhood have to pray terawih on the grass during Ramadan.
“The public will do their part if zoning begins”
In Diyarbakir more green areas and mosques are needed as well as pavements said Mahmut Altinhan. He also has requested that a mosque should be built in their district.
Altinhan stated that, “Our people are responsive. They will do their part if zoning begins and this way the mosque will be built.”
“There is plenty of area but no space for a mosque”
Selahattin Ozel from the neighbourhood remarked that, “All we want from our municipality is to allocate an area. We can build the mosque ourselves. We just need an area for it.”
Bahri Sanli also claimed that they are also having troubles with the number of mosques in their neighbourhood.
“Absolutely no, there is no space for a mosque!”
Necmettin Alas “Our municipality spends trillions on building churches but still fails to remember mosques where 99% of the population are Muslims. You did not forget about the churches but when it comes to mosques you say ‘absolutely no, there is no space for a mosque’. The municipality approaches this as ideological.”
“Over 30 thousand people live in this area and so they deserve a mosque in order to practice their religion Islam. We want a mosque to be built. People shouldn’t have to walk a long distance to do their prayers” said Bayram Kilic as part of the neighbourhood. (ILKHA)