ELAZIG GUNISIGI NEWSPAPER - October 2010
A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE ON MOSQUES
The Presidency of Religious Affairs has declared the first week of October as Mosque Week since 1986, and since 2003, this week has been celebrated as "Mosques and Religious Officials Week." On this occasion, we congratulate all religious officials, especially those in the Presidency of Religious Affairs and the Provincial Mufti's Office, for their contributions.
During this week, the local muftiate often organizes various programs, and Friday sermons usually focus on the importance and functions of mosques. I won't delve into the religious aspects of mosques here, as they are already well-covered by the relevant institutions. We thank them for their efforts in this regard.
However, I would like to approach Mosque Week from a perspective that perhaps has never been considered before. To begin, it might be useful to refer to an event that occurred in 2004 to express my point. You might remember that on August 11, 2004, we experienced an earthquake with a magnitude of 5.3, centered in Sivrice. Due to this and the subsequent aftershocks, many buildings in Sivrice were damaged to varying degrees. Sivrice Central Mosque was among the affected buildings, suffering light to moderate damage. When the Sivrice District Mufti’s office contacted the Department of Civil Engineering at Fırat University for expert assistance, we visited Sivrice once again as a committee.
The mosque had shops in its basement, and its structural system consisted of a reinforced concrete skeleton with vertical load-bearing columns. The system's major flaw was the absence of earthquake-resistant shear walls in the structural system. It was clear that the mosque required strengthening. The district mufti expressed that they did not have the financial resources to undertake the strengthening project. With the help of our Department Head, Prof. Ali Sayıl Erdoğan, we prepared and delivered the mosque’s strengthening project free of charge in a short time. Every profession has its own acts of charity, and when it comes to civil engineers, charity often comes in the form of projects.
About two months after we delivered the project, I happened to visit Sivrice again. While some repairs were visibly made to the mosque, it was difficult to tell what exactly had been done, as the painting and renovation were completed. When I asked a local official about the strengthening work, they casually responded, "We didn’t need the project, we just did it our way." I was at a loss for words. I hope that what I couldn’t say will be learned in due time, but without experiencing an earthquake, we may never understand the significance of this oversight.
After the earthquakes in February 2007, the mosque experienced more significant damage. Three years later, the mufti’s office contacted us again asking for the 2004 strengthening project. Unfortunately, it seemed that the valuable project (which we consider a piece of our hard work and effort) was lost.
The Sivrice Mosque remains an example that saddens us to this day. It has not been strengthened, and painting and renovations will not provide a long-term solution for a mosque located on an active seismic fault.
While mosques hold great religious importance, I am sure the events of this week will emphasize their significance in that regard. Mosques are not only spiritually important but also serve as sanctuaries for the community. During the Marmara earthquake, people suffered in the cold of winter. Had the mosques been left standing, they could have become essential shelters.
The mosques built by the Ottomans, and even the Seljuks, have survived to this day. However, mosques built in modern times often suffer damage, with their minarets sometimes collapsing, causing harm to both the mosque and its surroundings. Earthquakes reveal the true significance of the care we put into constructing our mosques. Let us ensure that our mosques are sturdy, even if they are not adorned with excessive decorations.
As you know, mosques are built through the tireless efforts of mosque construction and preservation associations. The hard work of their members cannot be overstated. Citizens are also continuously contributing to mosque construction. However, serious shortcomings in the design, construction, and supervision of these projects are often overlooked.
Mosque projects are crucial and should be designed with construction standards in mind. Compared to regular buildings, mosques often face additional challenges. One of the main issues stems from the fact that associations do not always have substantial funds to proceed with the projects. However, this should not be used as an excuse. The importance of this issue cannot be overstated, and mosque constructions must be carried out in a more organized manner.
The cost of maintaining controlled structures is relatively low. However, deficiencies, whether intentional or accidental, during construction can significantly shorten the lifespan of a building and increase maintenance costs. If we were to maintain records, we would find that many mosques undergo repairs after every earthquake. Every unnecessary repair is a waste of national resources.
I believe that there is no Muslim who is unaware of the importance of mosques. We call on the authorities and those involved to pay more attention to this issue, which may have been overlooked. We do not intend to accuse anyone, but we express our concern so that the issues we constantly observe can be addressed and resolved. Both the Department of Civil Engineering and the Fırat Chamber of Civil Engineers (FİMDER) are ready to provide support for any mosque-related projects, constructions, and supervision. The important thing is to find permanent solutions.
If the Provincial Mufti's Office organizes a workshop on "Our Mosques and Earthquakes" during Mosque Week or afterward, we will offer our full support for this valuable initiative.
Mosques are not the property of any individual; they belong to all of us. Therefore, let us reconsider why centuries-old mosques are still standing while newly built mosques are often damaged or destroyed.