Alaybey Mosque

Alaybey Mosque has stood in Gaziantep's Alaybey neighbourhood, in the Şahinbey district, since the late sixteenth century, having been built in 1595 by a cavalry commander known locally as Gazi Bey, whose military title, alaybeyi, gave the surrounding quarter its name. Centrally located within the old city, the mosque has long served the busy market area around it, and its courtyard includes a traditional ablution fountain and washing area for worshippers. Alaybey Mosque is also one of the Gaziantep mosques where the Ramadan tradition of mukabele, the communal recitation of the entire Qur'an, has continued annually for generations. The building suffered serious structural damage in the earthquake of 6 February 2023, which affected much of the city's historic core. After restoration work, it was reopened for worship, preserving a mosque that has anchored its neighbourhood for more than four centuries.