A total of 8,985 new mosques were constructed in Turkey between 2005 and 2015, data from the country’s top religious body has revealed.
According to the Religious Affairs Directorate, İstanbul has the highest number of mosques, 3,317, among other provinces while the eastern province of Tunceli has the lowest mosque number with 92.
The Justice and Development Party (AKP) government, which came to power in 2002, has frequently unveiled giant mosque projects, a move that frequently leads to criticism because some say there are already a sufficient number of mosques in the country. The government is also accused of exploiting mosque construction projects for political purposes.