Did you know that Selami Ali Mahallesi got its name from a sheikh who was considered rude? This is the tale of Selami Ali Mahallesi a place named after a man who famously avoided greeting people.
Selami Ali Mahallesi sits in Istanbul’s Üsküdar district on the Asian side. It blends history with modern life. The area now mostly aligns with the neighborhoods of Selamiali and Muratreis. Sultantepe borders it to the north. İcadiye is to the north and northeast. Altunizade lies to the east. Valide-i Atik sits to the south and Mimarsinan to the west.
The name Selamsız means without a selam. It also means not giving a greeting or rude. Sheikh Selami Ali inspired the name. He has a mosque. He also has a dervish lodge. There is also a public bath. And a public fountain in the area bears his name. Selami Ali earned the moniker Selamsız. He was known for not acknowledging people in public.
Since the 1700s Selami Ali Mahallesi has been a Romani settlement. It is one of the oldest in Istanbul. Other such settlements include Sulukule and Çayırboyu. About 5000 Romanis were reportedly evicted in 1996. The municipality planned to rebuild the shanty buildings to meet modern standards. A 2011 Council of Europe report stated the Romani population was about 1400. These people lived in 310 households.
The oldest Romani groups are the Tekkekapolo and the Kağıtçılar. They have been recorded since 1730 to 1735. The semi-nomadic Badırmalıdes arrived after 1923. Many Turkish Roma belong to the Hindiler Tekkesi. This is a Qadiriyya-Tariqa. An Indian Muslim, Sheykh Seyfullah Efendi El Hindi, founded it in 1738 in Selamsız.
The Selami Ali Mosque built in 1965 stands as a testament to modern times. The Kara Alaattin Mosque also known as Kara Kadı Mosque shows the area’s layered past. Other mosques include Gonca Gül Mosque and Şuca Ahmet Pasha Mosque.
Dervish lodges add a spiritual dimension. The Feyzullah Efendi Lodge also known as the Hindiler Lodge. Also there is the Acıbadem Lodge.
The Bülbülderesi Cemetery is the largest in Selami Ali Mahallesi. Tombs and small cemeteries dot the landscape. These are often near mosques and dervish lodges. The tomb of Köstendili Ali Efendi. The grave of Hadice Hanım. The Acıbadem Lodge is nearby.
The İlya Profiti Greek Orthodox Church has been standing since 1831. The Surp Garabet Armenian Church was built in 1888. The Surp Haç Armenian Church was rebuilt in 1880.
High schools in the area include Cumhuriyet High School and Üsküdar American Academy. Elementary and middle schools include Selami Ali Primary School.
Selami Ali Mahallesi is more than just a place. It is a mosaic of stories. These stories echo through its streets. The story of a sheikh who didn’t greet. The story of a community that has persisted. The story of diverse faiths coexisting. They all contribute to the unique identity of Selami Ali Mahallesi.