Purposes

The aims of the Nafi Baba Center for Research in Sufism, History, and Cultural Heritage are to study Sufism and urban culture within their historical and social contexts, and to examine — through interdisciplinary approaches — the material, social, cultural, and environmental characteristics of the Rumelihisarı Şehitlik lodge (commonly known as the Nafi Baba lodge), the Rumelihisarı Şehitlik Cemetery, and the Rumelihisarı settlement located within the Boğaziçi University campus, as well as their transformations over time. 

In this regard, the Center’s objectives include conducting original research projects on Sufism, dervish lodges, and urban culture; organizing academic conferences, lecture series, concerts, exhibitions, and educational programs. These activities aim to share the academic knowledge produced at the Center with the wider public and to help preserve the culture of coexistence and tolerance represented by the history of the Nafi Baba lodge.