Red Madrasa

Kırmızı Medrese is a historical structure built in the 14th century by II. Inn Şeref Bey during the Cizre Beylik period. Located in the Mountain Door Neighborhood of Cizre district in Şırnak, it is situated among the ruins of the city’s western walls. Named after the red bricks used in its construction, it is also known as “Medrasa Sur.” It functioned as a higher education institution where the region’s scholars were trained and comprised a külliye including a medrese, a mosque, and tomb like elements.

^{Kırmızı Medrese (}Cizre Chamber of Commerce and Industry⁾

The construction of Kırmızı Medrese is associated with II. Han Şeref Bey’s (Hanşeref) recapture of Cizre in 1508. According to various unverified sources, II. Şeref, upon seeking to reclaim Cizre from the Akkoyunlus, vowed: “O Lord, if I may regain Cizre, I shall build you a mosque.” It is said that upon the acceptance of this prayer, he commissioned the medrese. Cizre had fallen to the Akkoyunlus in 1475 and its emirs had been deposed; however, II. Şeref, with the support of the Boti Tribe and local populace, reclaimed the city. The medrese was built atop the Cizre walls, integrating seamlessly with the fortifications. With the abolition of the Cizre Beylik in 1847, the medrese ceased its educational function but retained its significance in collective memory.

^{Kırmızı Medrese (}Culture Portal⁾

Kırmızı Medrese is a north-south oriented, open courtyard structure measuring 38.00 x 28.00 meters. The central courtyard, measuring 15.16 x 18.95 meters, is surrounded by arcades and student cells on all four sides. The single-story building features two iwan halls; the main entrance iwan is centered on the eastern wall, while opposite it, on the western side at the center of the student quarters, lies a mosque. The southern wing is arranged as a mosque, müderris rooms, and a türbe, while the other wings are allocated to müderris and student rooms. The complex is estimated to cover approximately 2,000 square meters.

The mihrab is constructed of white stone and measures 2.82 x 3.78 meters. Its diagonal angle is 55 degree, and its perimeter is decorated with concave triangular and inverted U-shaped motifs. The mihrab niche has a semi-circular plan and is covered with flat bricks. The southwestern chamber, designated as the chief müderris’s room, is adorned with elegant motifs and was used by notable figures such as El-Cezeri and Sheikh Ibrahim Sori. At the center of the southern façade stands the türbe of Sheikh Ahmed El-Cezeri, featuring a five-sided, inverted dome structure. The türbe is a two-story octagonal building: the lower level serves as a burial chamber and the upper as a visitation area, enhanced by pointed arched niches.

The medrese is primarily constructed of red brick; the lower sections of the exterior walls feature finely cut stone, while rubble stone is used in certain areas. The eastern wing is supported by three semi-circular towers. The mosque, türbe, and medrese sections exhibit a unified aesthetic through complementary architectural features and decorative elements.

Kırmızı Medrese is located within an area containing significant structures from various periods. To its south lie the Türbe of Hz. Nuh, believed to have been built after the Flood, and the türbe of Cizre’s inventor, İsmail Ebu’l İzz El-Cezeri. Further south are the Mîr Abdal Medrese and the Mem û Zîn Türbe, while to the southeast lies Cizre Ulu Camii. Beneath the medrese is the türbe of Sheikh Ahmed El-Cezeri and a family cemetery for the Cizre emirs.

Kırmızı Medrese played a vital role in Cizre’s educational and religious life, serving as a center for the training of scholars such as the poet, exegete, and theologian Sheikh Ahmed El-Cezeri and Sheikh Ibrahim Sori. The processes of Ottoman modernization and the construction of new educational institutions during the 19th century altered perceptions of traditional medreses; however, Kırmızı Medrese has persisted in collective memory as an important symbol of identity, heritage, and historical continuity.

The mosque and türbe sections of the medrese have been relatively well preserved, while the medrese section is largely in ruins. The northern and north-eastern arcades and student cells have been reduced to foundation level. Today, the mosque section is used as a mosque, and the türbe remains open to visitors. The structure, now surrounded by modern buildings, is regarded as a cultural restoration achievement. Owned by the General Directorate of Foundations, Kırmızı Medrese has been allocated to Bitlis Eren University and is planned for use as the “Research Center.”