22.11.2025 10:47
In Üzengili Village Mosque, located in the Defne district of Hatay, a new mosque was built as the population increased and the existing one could no longer meet the needs. Those who see the mosque, which was constructed in such a way that a road passes underneath it due to the inability to find a suitable location, are surprised.
In Hatay, a mosque built on a 6-meter wide road, standing 4 meters and 70 centimeters tall, attracts the attention of onlookers due to the locals' inability to find a suitable place for it.
Üzengili Village Mosque, located in the Üzengili neighborhood of Defne district, was constructed in 1974 and became inadequate to meet the mosque's needs as the population grew over time. In 2015, the residents decided to build a new mosque as the congregation could not fit into the existing one. Due to the lack of a wider and suitable location for the mosque, a new mosque was built at the same spot, with a road passing underneath it. The mosque, currently used by the locals, has not been damaged in the earthquake, and vehicles pass under it while citizens worship inside, creating curiosity for first-time visitors.
"FIRST TIME SEEING IT LEAVES PEOPLE IN AWE" Imam Mevlüt Dönmez stated that the mosque was built on a road that is 6 meters wide and 4 meters and 40 centimeters high, saying, "Our mosque was indeed built in an interesting location. A road passes under our mosque. We had to do it this way because there was no space. Our old mosque was built in 1974 or 1975. As our neighborhood grew and the population increased, we could no longer fit into the mosque. When we couldn't fit into the mosque, we decided to build a new one. The other side of the road was donated for the mosque by a philanthropist. The current structure's plan was made by our former muhtar. We completed the construction of our mosque 4 months later. It was not damaged in the earthquake. A road 6 meters wide passes under the mosque, which is 4 meters and 70 centimeters high. Those who see this mosque for the first time are left in awe. It was designed and built with a perfect project. In the construction of this mosque, 32mm rebar used in highways and ring roads was utilized. It did not sustain the slightest damage in the earthquake. Thank God, it stands strong and our mosque continues to serve. May Allah be pleased with everyone who contributed to the construction of this mosque," he said.
"TRUCKS CAN PASS THROUGH HERE" Sabahattin Öztürk, who stated that trucks and construction machinery can pass under the mosque, said, "I was born and raised in this neighborhood. I was here during the construction of this mosque, and I also built its wall. We did it together with philanthropists. We shaped it this way. There used to be a small mosque here. Then the village grew. When the village grew, we decided to build a new mosque. We built the new mosque with the drawings of the former muhtar. Trucks can pass through here, but construction machinery cannot. When you look at the mosque from below or above, it resembles a historical structure," he expressed.