Liberation mosque, Religious building in Tepebaşı district, Şahinbey, Turkey.
Liberation Mosque is a religious building in Gaziantep featuring distinctive black and white stone bands across its facade and a central dome. The structure displays classical Greek columns and intricately designed window frames that reflect its complex architectural history.
The building was constructed in 1892 as St. Mary's Cathedral by architect Sarkis Balyan, initially serving as a church. It was converted into a prison during the 1920s before being repurposed as a mosque in 1986.
The structure displays a blend of Christian and Islamic design elements that visitors can observe in the columns and window treatments. This layering of different faith traditions remains visible in how the space is used and decorated today.
The building is accessible to visitors during the day and observes regular mosque prayer times. The original 19th-century bell is displayed at the Gaziantep Museum if you wish to see this historical artifact.
Prison bars remain attached to several window frames, serving as physical reminders of when the building functioned as a detention facility. These metal details quietly tell the story of the different roles the structure has played over time.
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