Agha Cafer Pasha Mosque, Kyrenia

Ağa Cafer Pasha Mosque is one of the Ottoman-era mosques located in the town of Kyrenia in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. It was commissioned in the late 16th century (1589-1590) by the Ottoman statesman Ağa Cafer Pasha. Built shortly after Cyprus came under Ottoman administration, the mosque is considered one of the region’s important Islamic structures.

History

The construction of the mosque was supported by a waqf organized by Ağa Cafer Pasha. Within this waqf dated 1599, various properties were endowed to ensure the maintenance and continuity of the mosque. These properties included farms, gardens, fields, olive groves, houses, warehouses and barns. In line with the Ottoman waqf system, the mosque’s needs were intended to be met from the income of these endowments.

When the need for repair arose in 1887, it was foreseen that the financing of this process would be covered by rental income from the mosque’s waqf properties. However, under British administration in Cyprus, disruptions occurred in the operation of the waqf system and the Nicosia Municipality did not make rent payments for 15 years. In 1890, delayed rent debts were collected as a result of officials’ intervention and the necessary budget for the mosque’s repair was provided.

Before 1974, the mosque was for a period under the control of the EOKA organization, during which it was damaged and closed to worship. After the Cyprus Peace Operation, it was repaired under the leadership of an association established thereafter and with the contributions of the Turkish Directorate of Religious Affairs, and it was reopened for worship in 1975.

Architectural Features

The mosque was built in the traditional Cypriot Ottoman architectural style and has a rectangular plan. It is known that it originally had a dome, but during the British administration period (1878-1880) a flat, cradle‑shaped roof was added in place of the dome. The interior space of the building has a layout supported by three arches. With these characteristics, it shows similarity to traditional prayer houses and mosque structures in Cyprus.

The entrance façade of the mosque projects with an arched portico and displays a simple design characteristic of Ottoman mosque architecture. In addition, local stone materials of Cyprus were used in the construction of the building.