Mosque Over 170 Years Old Serves As A Place Of Worship For Ahmad Zahid During His Stay In Istanbul

From SITI NURHANA SHAFIRAH MAT NAZIR

ISTANBUL, Nov 6 (Bernama) -- Against the backdrop of the beautiful Bosphorus Strait which separates the continents of Asia and Europe, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi took time today to perform Friday prayers at the Dolmabahçe Mosque, amidst his busy working visit to Türkiye.

This historic mosque, standing majestically along the strait’s coastline, serves not only as a place of worship for Muslims but also as a testament to the architectural excellence and heritage of the Ottoman Empire, enduring for over 170 years.

Ahmad Zahid, who also serves as the Minister of Rural and Regional Development, arrived at the mosque at 12.45 pm local time (5:45 PM Malaysian time) to join hundreds of local worshippers and international tourists for Friday prayers in a serene atmosphere.

Historically, the mosque also known as the Bezmialem Valide Sultan Mosque was commissioned around 1853 by Bezmialem Valide Sultan, the mother of Sultan Abdulmecid.

Following his mother’s passing, Sultan Abdulmecid oversaw the completion of the mosque in 1855, with the project executed by the renowned Ottoman-era architect Garabet Amira Balyan.

The mosque possesses a unique character, blending elements of Baroque, Rococo, and European Empire-style architecture with traditional Ottoman aesthetics distinguishing it from the classic mosque designs of earlier eras.

On the exterior, two minarets each standing approximately 40 metres tall grace the Istanbul skyline, adding to the unique architectural character of the mosque. The structure once served as a Naval Museum before being restored to its original function as a place of worship in the early 1960s.

Ahmad Zahid’s visit to this historic mosque was part of his official working visit to Türkiye, which focused, among other objectives, on strengthening bilateral relations and strategic cooperation between Malaysia and Türkiye.

Following Friday prayers, he is scheduled to attend the TRT World Forum 2026 at the Istanbul Congress Centre (ICC) an event to be inaugurated by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan where he will also serve as a panelist for a session titled “Türkiye: From Regional Power to Multi-Regional Actor.”

Centred on the theme “A World Without a Centre: Who Leads When The Rules Run Out?”, the TRT World Forum 2026 serves as an international platform that brings together political leaders, policymakers, academics, media practitioners, and civil society representatives to discuss a wide range of global issues.

-- BERNAMA