The TUBITAK 3501-funded “Sultantepe Özbekler Tekkesi: Sociocultural, Historical and Religious Dimensions” project on the Sultantepe Özbekler Tekkesi in Üsküdar has been unearthing the archive of the tekke between 1753-1971 for three years; digitizing written, visual and oral sources and building a database that will make them available to researchers. The project aims to be a role model study that deals with the religious, intellectual and social role of the Özbekler Tekkesi in the Ottoman-Republican line in a multi-dimensional way.

In this context, “The Door Kept Open from the Ottoman Empire to the Republic: Sultantepe Özbekler Tekkesi Symposium” will be held on Saturday, April 19, 2025 at TDV Islamic Research Center (ISAM) campus. In the event that will continue throughout the day;

• In the opening conference, project coordinator Ömer Koçyiğit will introduce the sociocultural, historical and religious dimensions of the tekke with a holistic perspective.
• In four thematic sessions, 14 researchers will share their latest findings on a wide range of topics from Sufi heritage to print activities, social networks, oral history studies and tombstones.
• At the closing of the program, Abdulhamit Kırmızı, M. Baha Tanman and Tülay Artan will discuss the day’s outstanding contributions in an evaluation session.

The symposium aims not only to introduce new documents shedding light on the history of the tekke, but also to bring together the multi-layered story of the Özbekler Tekkesi with today’s readers, from the nakşibendî tradition to the adventure of the printing press, from its location on pilgrimages to Istanbul’s intercity spatial networks.