The official inauguration of the Grand Mosque of Algeria (Jamaa al-Jazair) took place on Sunday in the capital, with President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, government officials, and theologians from various parts of the Muslim world in attendance, as reported by the Algeria Press Service news agency.
President Tebboune visited various facilities within the mosque complex, including the Museum of Islamic Civilization, the Cultural Center with a conference hall and library, and the Higher National School of Islamic Sciences "House of the Quran," catering to 1,500 students.
According to the president, Jamaa al-Jazair aims to "reinforce the values of moderation and combat extremism and fanaticism."
Spanning over 27 hectares, the Grand Mosque of Algiers stands as one of the most impressive places of worship, ranking as the largest in Africa and the third largest globally, after the mosques in Mecca and Medina, Saudi Arabia. Its interiors boast octagonal columns, marble adornments, and approximately 6 kilometers of calligraphic inscriptions.
Construction of the mosque began with the laying of the foundation stone on October 31, 2011, by former President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, with main works commencing in 2012.
Equipped with an anti-seismic system in its lower structure, the Grand Mosque of Algeria can absorb up to 70% of the force from earthquakes, backed by an 80-year warranty.
Located in the Mohammedia neighborhood in the capital's east, the mosque encompasses a 20,000-square-meter prayer space capable of accommodating over 120,000 worshipers.
The Jamaa al-Jazair complex includes additional facilities such as a cultural center with a library housing up to 1 million books, a laboratory for manuscript restoration, a helipad, and a two-level parking lot for 4,000 cars. The mosque's surroundings feature park spaces, while its minaret, reaching a height of 265 meters, stands as the highest architectural detail.
Authorities have described the Grand Mosque of Algiers as "a monumental structure showcasing the grandeur of Islamic culture in all its richness and diversity," with the expectation that such mosques will endure for 400-500 years.
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Based on materials from TASS