This is the Muradiye mosque, by the greatest Turkish architect, Sinan. It is one of his last works, from 1582-1585, who built it for Murat III.

This is a view of the decoration over an entrance to the south-east of the interior.

The balcony is part of the ‘hünkar mahfili’ (= lodge of the lord) which is a space reserved for the sultan or his representative in Imperial or other important mosques. In Manisa this would have been the governor of the ‘Saruhan Sancağı’ (Saruhan Province), mostly a sultan’s son during the 15th-16th centuries. Providing with such a protected space was a matter of national security, since mosques were difficult to secure against political murders (or attempts) – in the same way as were churches in Medieval Europe.

Correspondent: J.M.Criel, Antwerpen.
Sources: Website of ‘Manisa Il Kültür ve Turizm Müdürlüğü’