The Bursa Waqf Deeds and Waqf Works Photograph Exhibition, organized in collaboration with the General Directorate of Foundations (Vakıflar Genel Müdürlüğü), was inaugurated at Bursa Uludağ University (BUÜ).
The opening ceremony, hosted by BUÜ’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Department of History, was attended by Rector Prof. Dr. Ferudun Yılmaz, Bursa Regional Directorate of Foundations Director Dr. Haluk Yıldız, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences Prof. Dr. Bilgen Osman, Head of the History Department Prof. Dr. Hasan Basri Öcalan, along with academic and administrative staff and students.
Speaking briefly at the opening, BUÜ Rector Prof. Dr. Ferudun Yılmaz thanked everyone who contributed to the project. Expressing his satisfaction at hosting such a special event, he said:
“There is a common belief that our civilization is one of waqfs (charitable foundations). However, this is not merely a historical experience that happened in the past. The waqf tradition is an institutional structure inherently present in our being, genetic code, and future vision. In this exhibition, we will see traces of this journey from its very beginning.”
Bursa Regional Directorate of Foundations Director Dr. Haluk Yıldız said:
“With significant contributions from Hasan Basri Öcalan, we were able to hold the second symposium following the first, which was held in Ankara on October 3-4. It was a wonderful symposium. We deeply appreciate the contributions of our esteemed professor through his translations. We hope to continue our collaboration in the future and achieve even greater works together.”
The Head of the History Department, Prof. Dr. Hasan Basri Öcalan, noted that they embarked on this journey three months ago for the Symposium on the Waqf Tradition and Bursa Waqfs, saying:
“To add diversity to the symposium, we decided to present the collected deeds in a photo exhibition. After the symposium, we also wanted to bring this exhibition closer to our students. In our exhibition, you will see waqf deeds, which are specifications of waqf works, most of which are original except for two, dating back to the founding years of the Ottoman Empire. I would like to thank our esteemed governor, regional director of foundations, rector, all academics, the Birlik Foundation, and all the professors and students who are participating in our exhibition.”
After the ribbon-cutting, guests explored the exhibited works.
The exhibition will remain open for visitors at the BUÜ Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Department of History, until December 27.
