A businessman has reacted to the current state of a historical building next to the ancient city of Miletus, which underwent restoration and that won a UNESCO award in 2012.
Muharrem Hilmi Kayhan, owner of SÖKTAŞ, expressed his disapproval of the building’s neglect after it was transferred to the General Directorate of Foundations, saying, “Today, sheep are grazing inside.”
While the structure continues to welcome visitors, Mr Kayhan, Honorary President of TÜSİAD, reacted to the neglect of the historical building.
Extensive restoration work encompassing the İlyas Bey Mosque and its complex, including the madrasa and imaret rooms, was carried out between 2007 and 2012, after which the mosque and madrasa were opened to visitors.
Kayhan, who played a significant role in the restoration project, made noteworthy statements on his social media account, regarding the neglect the structure has faced since its transfer.
In his statement, Kayhan said, “We restored the İlyas Bey Mosque and its complex within the ancient city of Miletus with great material and moral sacrifices (SÖKTAŞ). This work won the Europa Nostra award.
“It was transferred to the Foundations Directorate, and their first action was to appoint an imam to a mosque with no congregation. Today, sheep graze inside, and it’s on its way back to its pre-restoration state.”
Following Kayhan’s statements, it remains to be seen what steps the Aydın Governorship, Didim District Governorship, and the General Directorate of Foundations will take regarding the complex.
Built in 1404 by İlyas Bey during the Menteşeoğulları Principality period and considered a rare example of Turkish-Islamic architecture, the historic İlyas Bey Mosque and Complex was left without a congregation after the relocation of Balat village following the 1955 earthquake, and remained derelict for many years.
The first step towards restoring the historic mosque was taken by Söktaş Tekstil Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş., a long-established company in Söke, through the initiative of the villagers and the village headman.
Learning that the historic structure had been restored in 1905 by their great-grandfather, the philanthropist Hacı Halil Paşa, the Kayhan family, committed to preserving their ancestral heritage, signed a 20-year sponsorship protocol with the Aydın Regional Directorate of Foundations in 2005.
The restoration project undertaken by SÖKTAŞ was recognized and awarded by Europa Nostra, a prestigious organization dedicated to preserving European cultural heritage, in the “restoration and preservation of historical buildings” category.