Africa: Algeria has inaugurated the largest mosque in Africa after years of political manoeuvring ahead of Ramadan. The Grand Mosque of Algiers on the Mediterranean coast of the North African country was officially inaugurated by Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune.
The mosque, locally known as Djamaa El-Djazair, boasts the world’s tallest minaret standing at 265 meters (869 feet) and can accommodate 120,000 people. In terms of size, it is the third-largest mosque in the world, behind Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia, which are the two holiest sites of Islam.
Spread across an area of 27.75 hectares, which is approximately 70 acres, this modern structure was built over seven years. Its design features a blend of wood and marble, adorned with Arab and North African motifs. The construction reportedly includes a helicopter landing pad and a library capable of holding up to one million books.
The mosque’s official launch allows it to host a variety of public prayers and events during the month of Ramadan beginning on March 10. Although it has been open to international tourists and state visitors for nearly five years, it was only recently opened for prayers in October 2020. Unfortunately, President Tebow contracted COVID-19 and was unable to attend the inauguration. The opening ceremony was largely ceremonial.
According to reports, a Chinese company built the largest mosque outside Islam’s holy site in Algeria, at a construction cost of 900 million dollars. However, the project was plagued by years of delays and cost overruns. Despite allegations that the mosque was constructed in an earthquake-prone area, the government denied these claims.
Critics claim that the mosque is a vanity project of former president Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who was forced to resign in 2019 after 20 years in power. Bouteflika named the mosque after himself and planned to inaugurate it in February 2019, but never did after being forced to step down due to protests and military intervention in Algeria.
TRENDING | Narendra Modi to Inaugurate BAPS Mandir in UAE
