Faces & Streets

An elderly Turk and his grandson entering the Yeni Valide Sultan Camii for noon prayers. The majority of Turks are devout Muslims, and although Islam is the state's religion, Turkey is a secular nation. The Yeni Valide Sultan Camii in Eminonu was commissioned in 1600 by Sultana Safiye, widow of Sultan Murat III (1574-95) and mother of Sultan Mehmed III (1595-1603). The msoque was completed by Turhan Hadice, mother of Sultan Mehmet IV, who instructed Mehmet Aga in 1660 to complete the building. (Press here for 35K jpg) A young girl among the ablution faucets of the Suleymaniye Camii. She is the daughter of a vendor stationed in the mosque's gardens, and was playing at opening and closing all the ablution faucets. Muslims are required to pray five times a day, and must perform an ablution ritual before each prayer. (Press here for 52K jpg)