Why was a war hero’s name erased from a mosque? That is the story of Mareşal Çakmak Camii. This mosque stands as a poignant reminder of history. It is a history entwined with heroism and also political decisions.
Once upon a time, in 1963, a group of kind-hearted people gathered their resources. They built a mosque in İstanbul. It was Küçükçekmece. They named it Mareşal Fevzi Çakmak Camii. This name honored Mareşal Fevzi Çakmak. He was a hero of the Turkish War of Independence.
However, time took its toll. The historic Mareşal Fevzi Çakmak Camii suffered damage. Eventually, it was completely torn down. A new mosque was constructed in its place. But something was different this time. The name “Mareşal Çakmak” was removed. The new mosque was named Hacı Osman Dereli.
This name change sparked outrage. Hamdi Öz was the only surviving member of the original mosque association. He protested this decision. Öz explained that the land for the mosque had been donated. It was specifically for a mosque honoring Mareşal Fevzi Çakmak.
Öz said that officials told him that the name of Mareşal Çakmak was assigned to a Quran school in the building. He found this unacceptable. He said that it was like putting a skirt on their war hero. He even threatened legal action if the decision was not reversed.
Hamdi Öz recounted the history of the Mareşal Fevzi Çakmak Camii. He said that in 1963, he and Kamil Kutval founded an association. Kutval was a fire chief. They aimed to build a mosque in honor of their war hero. They built an identical mosque in Kanarya. It mirrored the historic Şişli Camii. They even traveled to Ankara. There they personally obtained the Imam cadre from the Diyanet.
In 2017, a major storm struck İstanbul. The Mareşal Fevzi Çakmak Camii’s minaret collapsed. Eventually, a demolition order was issued. With the rebuilding came the controversial name change. The Küçükçekmece mufti and the AKP municipality jointly decided to rename it.
Mareşal Fevzi Çakmak was a significant figure in Turkish history. He was born in İstanbul in 1876. He died there in 1950. He served as Chief of General Staff. He was also the Minister of War in the Ottoman Empire. Later, he played a crucial role in the Turkish War of Independence. After Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, he was the second and last Field Marshal of Turkey.
The story of Mareşal Çakmak Camii is complex. It involves a war hero, community efforts, and political decisions. This place reminds us that history can be altered. Yet, remembering the past remains vital.