Erecting a mosque in the square has been a goal of several governments since the 1950s. An earlier plan backed by Mr. Erdogan when he was mayor of Istanbul was thwarted by a military intervention in 1997 that removed the country’s Islamist government in Ankara. Now, with few checks on his power as president, Mr. Erdogan’s plan to remake the square according to his vision is becoming reality. “He wants to shape Taksim in his own image,” Mr. Cagaptay said. In addition to fulfilling a promise to his pious base, Mr. Erdogan has other incentives to alter the fabric of this essential patch of Istanbul.

Source: New York Times March 22, 2019 09:00 UTC