Erdogan opens controversial Taksim Square mosque
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has inaugurated a mosque on Taksim Square, Istanbul - the plans that sparked a wave of protests on 2013.
Hundreds attended the ceremony, with some praying in the square itself because the mosque was full.
The mosque features prominently up coming to a public space traditionally seen as a symbol of the secular Turkish republic.
It also dwarfs a monument to the republic, and its own founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.
"Taksim Mosque right now occupies a prominent place among the symbols of Istanbul," Mr Erdogan stated after saying Fri prayers at the website. "God willing, it will stay before end of time."
He likewise told crowds that the mosque's construction was a good victory above protesters who had objected to Taksim Square having any sort of religious tone, adding that "nothing can end this initiative now".
Mr Erdogan first talked about wanting a mosque in Taksim Square when he was the mayor of Istanbul in the 1990s.
"There wasn't a good prayer area and the faithful had to create carry out with praying on newspapers on the floor," Mr Erdogan told the crowds on Friday.
Worshippers at the site praised the new mosque, which combines Ottoman features with modern day design, and can accommodate about 4,000 people.
Abuzer Koç told AFP media agency that "there are actually too many people rather than enough mosques".
"God bless those who made this happen," he added.
But while Turkey is a good Muslim-majority region, critics have accused Mr Erdogan of actively trying to displace Turkey's secular basis.
Plans in 2013 to build the mosque found in Istanbul's Gezi Park, found in the Taksim Square spot, sparked a good wave of protests - both in the town, and solidarity protests around the world.
But what started out as a demonstration against the redevelopment of the region quickly converted into a wider expression of anger against authorities policies, and what they found as Mr Erdogan's increasing authoritarianism.
