Sat 24 August 2019:
Officials in Chechnya inaugurated what they claimed to be Europe’s largest mosque on Friday.
The marble-decorated building, which is named after the Prophet Mohammed, can hold more than 30,000 people and was described the Chechen authorities as the “largest and most beautiful” mosque in Europe.
An Uzbeki architect designed the 9,700 square metre holy site.
The mosque’s flower-lined grounds can accommodate an additional 70,000 worshippers, Chechen authorities said.
A smattering of senior officials attended the event, including Kuwaiti Amiri Diwan adviser and chairman of the International Islamic Charitable Organisation (IICO) Dr Abdullah Al-Maatouq.
Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov said the mosque, which is located in Shali – a town near to the regional capital of Grozny – was “unique in its design and majestic in its size and beauty”.
Although he did not attend the opening, Russian President Vladimir Putin commended the inauguration of the mosque, saying it was of great importance to the region and the Chechen Republic.
Mr Kadyrov was appointed by Mr Putin to rule the Muslim majority region in 2007 and has worked to promote Islam in Chechnya.
In October 2018, he opened the Akhmad Kadyrov Mosque – also known as “The Heart of Chechyna” – in the region’s capital. Mr Kadyrov and Mr Putin attended the building’s inauguration ceremony.
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