Turkey renovates Ottoman-era mosque in South Africa

ANKARA

Turkey’s state-run aid agency has renovated an Ottoman era mosque in South Africa.

The Nur el-Hamidia Mosque was built 135 years ago with the support of Ottoman Sultan Abdulhamid II in Cape Town, the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) said in a statement on Thursday.

It said the mosque's historical features show an engagement between the two countries.

The mosque was renovated using calligraphy, gold leaves, decorative motifs, and embroidery, the statement added.

Abdurrauf Boux, the mosque’s manager, said TIKA has carried out many projects in Cape Town and lauded the meticulous restoration of the historic mosque.

* Writing by Erdogan Cagatay Zontur