Mosque Project and Land Decisions at Şanlıurfa City Hospital Spark Controversy

The newly completed 1,700-bed City Hospital in Şanlıurfa has sparked public controversy due to surrounding lands being opened up for commerce and plans for a large mosque in its garden, despite the presence of 85 prayer rooms inside the hospital.

Status of the City Hospital

The newly completed 1,700-bed City Hospital in Şanlıurfa, whose opening is expected to be performed by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has remained overshadowed by planning controversies despite the massive investment.

Public reactions are growing regarding the land crisis and space usage choices surrounding the massive facility, which is expected to make a major contribution to the healthcare infrastructure of the city with a population of approximately 2.5 million.

Land and Commercial Controversies

Reactions continue against the privatization of public land located right across from the hospital, which was expected to be utilized as green space and a parking lot to ease heavy hospital traffic.

While decisions paving the way for concreteization instead of green spaces are being debated, it is stated that a massive mosque is planned to be built in the hospital garden.

There Are 85 Prayer Rooms

While the rationale behind the plan to cram a large mosque into the hospital garden is being questioned, another detail that surprised the public has emerged.

It was learned that the massive healthcare complex already contains approximately 85 prayer rooms inside the building to meet the worship needs of patients, patients' relatives, and staff.

Demands of Citizens

While there are 85 separate worship areas inside the building and hundreds of acres of land right across are being sold, the attempt to squeeze the large mosque project directly into the hospital garden is drawing backlash.

Citizens awaiting a solution to the inadequate parking and green space problems demand that this lack of planning around the hospital be corrected as soon as possible.