The Mimar Sinan Mosque is a mosque in the Ataşehir district of Istanbul, Turkey. It was inaugurated in 2012.[1] [2]
The mosque was commissioned by the Turkish government and designed by architect Hilmi Şenalp. Originally intended to be named the "Anatolian Great Mosque", then prime-minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had the name changed to honor Mimar Sinan (16th century), a famous Ottoman architect. Erdoğan stated at the inauguration that the Anatolian side of Istanbul had lacked a "selatin" (literally "sultans", imperial) mosque like the Mimar Sinan Mosque.[3] [4] At the event, Erdoğan gave visiting dignitaries a miniature replica of the mosque, mimicking a ritual of the Ottoman sultans.
The mosque has a capacity of 10,000-12,500 people. The central dome is 42 meters high, and the minarets 72 meters. The complex has a large underground area, which includes a library, classrooms, conference halls, shops, garage and VIP lounge.