Turkey Global Mega-Mosque Bonanza List
Michael Bird, Zeynep Şentek
A list of the mega-mosque projects Turkey has built or are under construction across five continents, revealing size, who is behind the financing, and when they are planned for delivery
MOSQUES IN: EUROPE
Rebuilding a Muslim hub in Russia's capital: Moscow Central Mosque. Photo: maqiivi, CreatIve Commons
Moscow Central Mosque
Location: Moscow, Russia
Investor: The Russian Religious Authority built the rough construction. Financing comes from businessman Suleyman Kerimov (86 million Euro) and the Diyanet Foundation (12 million Euro).
Cost: 109 million Euro
Worshipper capacity: 10,000
Status: Opened in September 2015
Info: Over six floors with two 72m-high minarets, this is the biggest mosque complex in Russia. Diyanet President Mehmet Gormez said: “After the Bolshevik regime that lasted for 100 years (sic), it is very important to build this mosque in Moscow with minarets reaching the sky with a crescent on the top as the symbol of peace.”
Presidential showpiece: new mosque in Ankara Photo: Sefacan Bekar (Wikimedia Commons)
Bestepe People's Mosque
Location: Ankara, Turkey
Investor: Presidency’s budget
Cost: Unknown
Worshipper capacity: 3,000
Status: Opened in July 2015
Info: Inside the Turkish President’s new 535 million Euro palace complex, this is 1,200 sqm in size with four 60-meter-high minarets.
A pastiche of the pinnacle of Ottoman architecture, the 16th century mosque in Selimiye: Corum mosque, central Turkey, rushed into opening in this election year
Corum Central Mosque
Location: Corum, Turkey
Cost: 5.2 million Euro
Investor: Presidency of Diyanet, Diyanet Foundation, Corum Municipality.
Worshipper capacity: 3,000
Status: Opened in June 2015
Info: Designed as a copy of the 16th Century Selimiye Mosque in Edirne, Turkey, buily by the master architect of the Ottoman rulers, Mimar Sinan. This is the fifth biggest mosque constructed during the Turkish Republican era (post-1923).
A pastiche of the pinnacle of Ottoman architecture, the 16th century mosque in Selimiye: Kirikkale mosque, central Turkey, opened in this election year
Kirikkale Central Nur Mosque
Location: Kirikkale, Turkey
Cost: 10.2 million Euro
Investor: Presidency of Diyanet & Diyanet Foundation
Worshipper capacity: 10,000
Construction status: Opened in May 2015 (by President Erdogan)
Info: Like Corum Central mosque above, this was also designed as a copy of the Mimar Sinan's Selimiye Mosque, leading critics to argue that Turkey is building identikit mosques of its masterpieces, rather than original designs or constructions which are in harmony with their surroundings.
Ahmet Hamdi Akseki Mosque
Location: Ankara, Turkey
Investor: Diyanet
Cost: 13 million Euro
Worshipper capacity: 6,000
Status: Opened in 2013
Info: Referred as “the VIP mosque”, this is within the Diyanet HQ, with seperate ablution rooms for state officials.
There is a tunnel between the Diyanet HQ and the mosque, which is only open to high officials and their guests.
During its construction phase, Diyanet constantly instructed mufti offices across Turkey to encourage mosque-goers to donate money for the building.
Dominating the Istanbul skyline: the plan for Camlica mosque (Photo: AA)
Camlica Mosque Complex
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Investor: Donations
Cost: 60 million Euro, possibly higher.
Worshipper capacity: 35,000
Status: Under construction, due mid-2016
Info: Reportedly the biggest mosque in the country since the founding of the Turkish Republic in 1923, this will have six minarets and will be visible from the whole city.
By comparison, only the holy mosque in Mecca (Al-Masjid al-Haram) has seven minarets.
Camlica will also include a library, an art gallery and a conference center for 1,000 people, as well as recreational and sporting facilities. The project is designed by two female architects, Bahar Mızrak and Hayriye Gül Totu.
Sumptuous interiors near the Rhine: Diyanet's German mosque (Source: DITIB)
Marxloh Pollmann DITIB Mosque
Location: Duisburg, Germany
Investor: 50 per cent EU and the state of North Rhine Westphalia, 50 per cent DITIB, Diyanet’s sister organisation in Germany.
Cost: seven million Euro
Worshipper capacity: 3,500
Status: Opened in 2008
Cologne Mosque: in legal limboland for two years. Picture: Wikimedia Commons/ Pappnaas666
Cologne Central Mosque (DITIB-Zentralmoschee Köln)
Location: Cologne, Germany
Investor: Funded by DITIB, Diyanet’s sister organisation in Germany, loans, donations from Muslim associations.
Cost: 34 million Euro
Worshippers: 4,000
Status: Delivered, opening delayed
Info: Over 4,500 sqm, this was designed by Cologne-born church architect Paul Boehm as an industrial spin on the Ottoman architectural style, with glass walls, two 55-meter minarets and a dome, a bazaar, lecture halls and library. Construction is finished, but opening is delayed due to an ongoing court case.
Pristina Mosque
Location: Pristina, Kosovo
Investor: Diyanet Foundation
Cost: Unknown
Worshipper capacity: 7,000
Status: Planning. Construction due to start.
Recreating a vision of Turkish Islam in Kosovo: Mitrovica Mosque (Source: Diyanet)
Mitrovica Bayrampasa Isabey Mosque
Location: Mitrovica, Kosovo
Investor: Istanbul Bayrampasa Mufti’s office
Cost: Two million Euro
Worshipper capacity: 4,200
Status: Opened in June 2014
Info: Claimed to be the biggest mosque so far in the Balkans with two 48-metre high minarets. Donated by the municipality of Bajram Pasa in Istanbul, as a replacement for the Isa Beg Mosque damaged during Kosovo conflict in 1999.
Bucharest Mosque
Location: Bucharest, Romania
Investor: Romania provides land with market value of 3.9 million Euro, Turkey finances construction, most probably done through the Diyanet Foundation.
Cost: Unknown
Worshipper capacity: 1,500
Status: The Romanian Mufti’s office has authorisation for construction to begin
Info: The Mufti states Turkey should finance the project, although the details are not finalised. Construction must be finished by 2018 under a deal with the Bucharest authorities
Kardzhali Mosque
Location: Kardzhali, Bulgaria
Investor: Likely to be Diyanet
Cost: Unknown
Worshipper capacity: 1,500
Status: Unknown
Tirana Mosque, Albania: Called the biggest in the Balkans (photo: camilereyardim.com) Tirana Mosque
Location: Tirana, Albania
Investor: Diyanet Foundation
Cost: 30 million Euro
Worshipper capacity: 4,500
Status: Under construction, due in 2017
Info: In May 2015 Erdogan laid the foundation stone on Albania's mega-construction. Called the “biggest mosque in the Balkans”, this is part of an Islamic complex in the heart of Tirana, which is set to house conference and exhibition halls, libraries and museums. Nearby, a "museum of coexistence" will be erected, Erdogan said, adding that it would act as "a symbol of religious tolerance".
Budapest Mosque
Location: Budapest, Hungary
Investor: Diyanet Foundation
Cost: Unknown.
Worshipper capacity: Unknown
Status: No location found.
Info: Designed as an exhibition space, cafe, a four-minaret mosque, cultural centre and guest house, this mosque is still only at the planning stage.
The Budapest city mayor István Tarlós confirmed the question of a mosque “has been raised” with officials at the Turkish Embassy, but they have not yet found a suitable location.
Gorazde Kayseri Mosque
Location: Gorazde, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Investor: Kayseri people in Turkey
Cost: 0.95 million Euro
Worshipper capacity: 1,000
Status: Opened in 2009
Info: In 2013, Diyanet announced that they also will start building, through the Turkish overseas development agency TIKA, a “culture and education complex” next to the mosque. There will be a conference hall, Gorazde Mufti’s office, other halls and a religious high school.
Cambridge, UK is due an "eco-mosque" from the architects of the London Eye (photo: camilereyardim.com)
Cambridge Mosque
Location: UK, Cambridge University
Investor: Diyanet Foundation/local Cambridge community/Donors
Cost: 23 million Euro, projected cost.
Worshipper capacity: 1,000
Status: Designs completed, under negotiation.
Info: In 2013, Erdogan sent a team from the Diyanet and Diyanet Foundation and Prime Ministerial officials to Cambridge to carry out talks on a mosque in Cambridge. Architects of the London Eye Marks Barfield and Professor Keith Critchlow of the Prince’s School of Traditional Arts were appointed by the Muslim Academic Trust to design what intends to be an “eco-mosque”. At three stories high, this is a mosque which aims to complement rather than overpower its surroundings.
“As yet no construction has commenced,” says Timothy Winter, professor of Islamic studies at the the University of Cambridge. “The land has been purchased and planning permission obtained. Most donations have come from the local Cambridge community, including, pleasingly, many non-Muslim neighbours who are strongly supportive of the plans. We are hoping for significant donations through Diyanet, but the mosque will not be a Diyanet mosque.”
Embracing the local style of Mosques in Minsk (photo: camilereyardim.com)
Minsk Mosque
Location: Belarus, Minsk
Investor: Diyanet Foundation
Cost: 4.5 million Euro
Worshipper capacity: 5,000
Status: Planning
Info: There are 30,000 Muslims in Belarus.
A Turkish stamp on Cyprus: Hala Sultain Mosque (photo: camilereyardim.com)
Nicosia Hala Sultan Mosque
Location: Nicosia, TRNC (Turkish republic of Northern Cyprus)
Investor: Diyanet & Diyanet foundation & Association of Cypriot Foundations
Cost: 13.4 million Euro
Worshipper capacity: 7,500
Status: Construction started, due 2016
Info: Turkish Vice Prime Minister Besir Atalay was present during the “laying down foundation” ceremony in 2013. In his speech he said: “this project will be the Cypriot Turk stamp on this island” which is still disputed territory between Cypriot Greeks and Turks.
Mosque plan for Crimea (photo: camilereyardim.com)
Crimea Seyit Settar Mosque
Location: Simferopol, Occupied Crimea
Investor: Diyanet Foundation
Cost: Unknown
Worshipper capacity: Unknown
Status: Designs completed, under negotiation
Info: The mosque is supposed to have started construction in March 2015, but is suffering delays due to the Russian accession of Crimea, this is still listed on the Diyanet Foundation’s site as an ongoing project.
Serving the Turks abroad: Dutch mega-mosque in Utrecht Picture Wikimedia/FaceMePLS
Utrecht Ulu Cami Mosque
Location: Utrecht, the Netherlands
Investor: The Netherlands Islamic Union (HDV) Diyanet’s sister organisation in Holland
Cost: 11 million Euro
Worshipper capacity: 2,000
Status: opened in June 2015
Info: The biggest mosque in the Netherlands with the tallest minarets. There are around 200 Turkish mosques in the Netherlands.
Aziziye Mosque
Location: Batumi, Georgia
Investor: Diyanet Foundation
Cost: Unknown
Worshipper capacity: Unknown
Status: unknown, local Government still has to find space
Info: In 2013, then Georgian PM Bidzina Ivanishvili said that the local government will find a suitable place for the mosque.
According to an agreement between the two countries, Georgia will restore the ruined Christian monasteries of Oshk and Ishkhan in northeast Turkey. However the nationalist Orthodox community is against the plans saying Georgia doesn’t need another mosque.
In Batumi, where the Ottoman State had ruled for about 300 years and built many mosques, there is one mosque that survives today.
Some local Muslims also want to build a mosque from their own pockets without interference from the Turks.
MIDDLE EAST
Nine Gaza Mosques
Location: Gaza, Occupied Territories
Investor: Diyanet Foundation
Cost: 16.4 million Euro
Worshipper capacity: unknown
Status: Planning done, construction due to start
Info: The Diyanet President said in 2014 they would start to rebuild or repair nine Gaza mosques that Israel has demolished, from a total of 70 wrecked places of worship.
CENTRAL ASIA
Turkish President Erdogan and Kazakh counterpart Nazerbayov open Turkey's mega-mosque in Turkistan (http://www.aktifhaber.com/erdogan-kazakistanda-cami-acilisi-yapti-1156180h.htm)
Hoca Ahmet Yesevi Mosque
Location: Turkistan, Kazakhstan
Investor: Funded by Diyanet and Diyanet Foundation
Cost: 11 million Euro
Worshipper capacity: 2,700
Status: Opened in April 2015
Info: Turkey calls this mosque "a gift" from the Turkish state to the Kazakh people.
At its opening, Diyanet Foundation representative Mazhar Bilgin said: “Except for concrete, steel and sand, everything to build this mosque was brought from Turkey. Marble, stones, electric instruments, paint, rugs, everything. Workers were brought from Turkey… The mosque reflects Central Asian Turkic and Ottoman architecture. We designed and produced everything in Turkey. So it was a beautiful way of showing these people the things we have, but they don’t have here.”
Space-age college mosque in Kazakhstan (source: camilereyardim.com)
Hoca Ahmet Yesevi University Mosque
Location: Turkistan, Kazakhstan
Investor: Diyanet Foundation & Diyanet
Cost: 2.7 million Euro
Worshipper capacity: Unknown
Status: Planning done, construction to start soon
Info: The mosque is to be built in the university campus.
Bishkek wins fresh mega-mosque injection (source: camilereyardim.com)
Bishkek Mosque
Location: Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Investor: Diyanet Foundation & Diyanet
Cost: 27 million Euro
Worshipper capacity: 6,000
Status: Due for 2017
Info: With four 70-meter high minarets, the Diyanet Foundation says it will be the biggest mosque in Central Asia.
NORTH AMERICA
Diyanet Center of America
Location: Lanham, Maryland, USA
Investor: Diyanet & Diyanet Foundation
Cost: 90.5 million Euro
Worshipper capacity: 3,000
Status: Opened in June 2015
Info: The only mosque in America with two minarets. Built around the corner from Washington D.C.
CENTRAL AMERICA
Plan for Haiti (source: camilereyardim.com)
Buhara El Imam Mosque
Location: Cap-Haitien, Haiti
Investor: Diyanet & Diyanet Foundation
Cost: Unknown
Worshipper capacity: 500
Status: Construction started in April 2014.
‘Ortakoy’ Mosque
Location: Havana, Cuba
Investor: Turkey
Cost: Unknown
Worshipper capacity: 3,500
Status: Proposal stage
Info: Turkey and Saudi Arabia are both vying with Cuba to open a mosque on the Caribbean island. Turkey’s proposal is a replica of the 19th century neo-baroque ‘Ortakoy’ Mosque in Istanbul.
Erdogan stated that if Raul Castro accepts Saudi Arabia's plan, he will instead open a mosque on another part of the secular and Communist island, probably in Santiago. There are 9,000 Muslims in Cuba.
AFRICA
Somalia Central Mosque
Location: Somalia, Mogadishu
Investor: Diyanet Foundation & Diyanet
Cost: 2.7 million Euro
Worshipper capacity: Unknown
Status: 75 per cent completed
Info: This will be the largest mosque in Somalia.
Haci Tenzile Erdogan Mosque
Location: Mogadishu, Somalia
Investor: Turkish Housing Development Fund (TOKI)
Cost: Unknown
Worshipper capacity: 2,300
Status: Opened in January 2015.
Info: The mosque is named after President Erdogan’s mother.
Aiming to free people "from slavery and ignorance": Mali mosque: (photo: AA)
Bamako Eyup Sultan Mosque
Location: Bamako, Mali
Investor: Diyanet and Diyanet Foundation
Cost: 1.9 million Euro
Worshipper capacity: 750
Status: Opened in December 2013
Info: Diyanet calls this construction the first mosque with “Ottoman architecture” in Africa.
Bamako has a twin town in Turkey, Eyup, which helped initiate the mosque. The Eyup Muftihood wrote on its website about the new mosque:
“It is very meaningful to build a mosque like this in a country where more than 70 per cent of the population’s only dream is to find a job as a servant in a rich person’s house… They, through this mosque, will be free from ignorance and slavery and will embrace the spiritual qualities that have been destroyed… These people will come alive, will stand on their own feet and [Mali] will become a truly independent country.”
This information comes from the local, international and Turkish media and from religious leaders in the respective countries.
However Diyanet and the Diyanet Foundation did not return our attempts to confirm this information, or provide us with new information.
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