Balkans | The failure to perform Tarawih prayers in the Great Mosque of Algiers, one of the largest mosques in the world, has sparked controversy.

In the Grand Algerian Mosque, which was inaugurated by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune in 2020, Tarawih, Friday and Eid prayers have not been performed for 3 years.

The inability to perform Friday and Eid prayers, as well as Tarawih prayers, in the Great Mosque of Algeria, one of the largest mosques in the world, which was opened for worship about three years ago, sparked great reactions in the country recently.

According to the Algerian authorities, Tarawih prayers are not held in the Great Mosque of Algeria, which is considered the third largest mosque in the world after the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque in Saudi Arabia, despite the people’s strong demands. As well as Friday prayers.

The mosque, which is an important Islamic business in the country, could not operate at full capacity for a long time due to the COVID-19 pandemic, although it opened in 2020.

The authorities attribute the inability to perform Tarawih and Friday prayers in the mosque, which can accommodate 120,000 people, to “technical” reasons.

The construction cost was $1.5 billion

The construction of the mosque, which began in 2012 in the Mohammedia district on the coastal side of the capital, Algiers, was completed in 8 years and inaugurated by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune in 2020.

The mosque, whose construction cost amounted to $1.5 billion, surpassed the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, Morocco, and became the largest mosque in Africa after its opening.

The mosque also has the world’s tallest minaret, which is 265 meters high. There is also a library, a conference hall, a museum of Islamic history, and a scientific research center in the Algerian Grand Mosque complex, which was built on an area of ​​400,000 square meters.

One of the important works that was done to erase the traces of French colonialism.

The Great Mosque of Algiers is among the most important works undertaken to erase the traces of 132 years of bloody colonization by France.

The mosque, which includes in its design motifs from different periods of Islamic history, is one of the places visited by many local and foreign tourists, as its courtyard is decorated with trees that can satisfy tranquility, and its minaret that offers a visual feast for it. visitors.

In addition to its magnificence and visual beauty for Algerians, the mosque also carries many spiritual values ​​in order to erase the traces of French colonialism in the country.

focus of discussions in the country

Since the beginning of Ramadan, the obstacles to performing Tarawih and Friday prayers in this great temple have been discussed among Algerians, especially on social media platforms.

Algerian journalist Riad Hoveli, through his account on social networking sites, “The Great Algerian Mosque: A Lantern Without Light?” Publish a critical article entitled.

Pointing out that there is a wide debate among Algerians about the reasons why it is not possible to perform Friday and Tarawih prayers in the mosque, Hoveli stressed that mobilization has begun for the “freedom” of the Algerian Grand Mosque on social media.

Pointing out that the mosque, which is one of the most beautiful works of architecture in the country, religiously and spiritually, is closed to the public on these holy days, Hoveli assessed that this situation makes this important building “a fortress without a soul or a prison”.

Journalist Ayyash Darassi also shared, through his account on social media, a comprehensive view of the Algerian Grand Mosque, saying: “This mosque needs a man like Al-Fateh who will decide to open it in the last ten days of Ramadan, or at least on this occasion of Eid.” Use phrases.

question marks

Oudi Fellahi, former press agent of the Algerian Ministry of Religious Affairs and Institutions, told Anadolu Agency (AA) regarding the aforementioned discussions that the public expects the opening of this huge religious building for worship during Ramadan and to get rid of the “soulless”. the body “.

Recalling that the appointment of Sheikh Muhammad al-Ma’mun al-Qasimi at the head of the mosque’s administration with the rank of minister in 2022 is hopeful, Falahi said that the lack of change, however, raises questions.

Falahi stressed that since the beginning of the month of Ramadan, there has been a strong demand from the public to open the mosque for Friday, Tarawih prayers, night prayers, and religious and intellectual events, Falahi said that the aforementioned situation also disappointed him.

“Some parties may try to prevent the Al-Jazaer Mosque from operating,” Fellahi said. He said.

Technical reasons

The mosque administration issued a written statement on April 8, for the first time in the country, regarding demands and discussions regarding opening the mosque to full worship, including Tarawih and Friday prayers.

And it was emphasized in the statement that the mosque has been open for worship since October 28, 2020, and that 5 daily prayers have been performed, and it was emphasized that the temple is not closed for worship, except for some measures taken in the framework of combating the Covid-19 epidemic.

The statement pointed out that the mosque is also open for the worship of women, and the statement said: “Those who want to worship can come to the mosque with their families. The section designated for women in the mosque has also been opened.” It has been said.

Regarding the inability to perform Friday and Tarawih prayers, the statement stated that it is expected to complete the ongoing technical works to expand the closed spaces in which prayers will be performed.

The statement pointed out that the Algerian mosque is a scientific and cultural structure and a place of worship and includes important areas such as a university, a museum, a scientific council, a library and a research center. It was confirmed that the mosque would be fully opened and that it would be “a source of pride for Muslims around the world”.

In the statement, questions posed by the public with curiosity were answered with the words “technical studies” and no further details were shared.

The request to open the mosque for those who come to worship

Worshipers, who perform their time prayers in the mosque, want to experience the joy of Ramadan to the fullest here.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency after the Asr prayer, Yasser Haddad was surprised that Friday and Tarawih prayers were not held in the mosque and said, “In fact, the mosque should have been open to all prayers during the month of Ramadan.” He said.

Expressing his desire to perform all prayers in the mosque, Haddad said, “I would like the mosque to be full for all prayers. We hope that Tarawih prayers will be held in this great mosque, and we ask the authorities to overcome obstacles and open the mosque for all prayers.” Use phrases.

Algerian Amine Hammadi, on the other hand, stated that the mosque should be opened for worship, at least in the last days of Ramadan.

Hammadi said: We hope that this great mosque will be opened in the last ten days of Ramadan and Tarawih and Tahajjud prayers will be performed. We call on the Ministry of Religious Affairs and other higher authorities to open the mosque for full service as soon as possible,” he said.

AA