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A suspect vandalized seven gravestones at the Haydarhane Mosque cemetery in Fatih, a historic district on Istanbul's European side, before fleeing the scene.
The suspect entered the cemetery, located in the Iskenderpasa neighborhood, on the evening of July 31 and damaged the gravestones by kicking them and striking them with a stone.
The suspect gathered the broken fragments of the gravestones in a gap beside the cemetery before fleeing after nearby residents reacted to the incident.
Police arrived at the scene after being alerted by the mosque's imam and examined the damaged cemetery. Officers have launched an effort to locate the suspect, who remains at large.
Residents expressed dismay after learning that gravestones in the cemetery had been damaged.
Jale Jarira, a financial consultant who lives in the neighborhood, said she saw damage to approximately seven gravestones when she entered the cemetery.
Jarira described the loss as significant, calling the gravestones part of the community's art and history, and said she hoped those responsible would be identified and held accountable.
The Haydarhane Mosque and its cemetery were built as a mosque during the reign of Ottoman Sultan Bayezid II by Alemdar Ali Haydar Dede, a standard-bearer under Fatih Sultan Mehmet, and rank among the city's long-established historic sites.
Gravestones in the cemetery, belonging to both men and women, bear titles offering information on the social status and professions of those buried there.
Reflecting the styles of the eras in which they were made, some of the gravestones feature floral carvings, while others are notable for fruit motifs.
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