Largest Ahl al-Bayt Cultural Center Opens in Istanbul on Lady Zainab’s Birth Anniversary

Largest Ahl al-Bayt Cultural Center Opens in Istanbul on Lady Zainab’s Birth Anniversary
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Istanbul witnessed the inauguration of the “Zainabiya Mosque and Cultural Center” in Halkalı on Sunday, October 26, coinciding with the birth anniversary of Lady Zainab (peace be upon her). The event marked the launch of what is described as the largest Ahl al-Bayt religious and cultural center in Turkey and Europe, attracting a diverse gathering of officials, clerics, and community members from various sects.

The ceremony began with the Turkish national anthem and a recitation from the Holy Qur’an by renowned reciter Abu al-Qasimi, followed by speeches emphasizing the center’s spiritual and cultural mission in promoting unity and coexistence.

Among the attendees were Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, Republican People’s Party leader Özgür Özel, leader of Turkey’s Jafari community Sayyid Salahuddin Özgündüz, the Governor of Istanbul Davut Gül, and representatives from Azerbaijan and local municipalities.

Speakers highlighted the project’s vision as an open space for dialogue and cultural exchange rooted in the values of patience, justice, and perseverance exemplified by Lady Zainab. Özgündüz urged that the center remain “a symbol of unity, not division,” while Istanbul’s Deputy Mayor Nuri Aslan described it as “a place for worship, education, and brotherhood.”

Özel noted that the mosque’s 72,000-square-meter design symbolizes the martyrs of Karbala, combining Islamic and Seljuk architectural styles. The ceremony concluded with the laying of a foundation stone for “Riwaq Square”. Originally built in 1978, the Zainabiya Mosque has now been expanded into a landmark of Islamic heritage in Istanbul.