The Great Mosque of Namazgja, a Monument of Islamic Heritage and Religious Coexistence in Albania

2024-10-08 16:11:00, Opinione Dr.Arben Ramkaj

The Great Mosque of Namazgja, a Monument of Islamic Heritage and Religious

In 2014, the then chairman of the Muslim Community of Albania (KMSH), Mr. Skender Brucaj organized a special meeting with the Prime Minister of Albania, Mr. Edi Rama. The meeting was held in a fully packed hall, including important personalities of the Muslim community, including my friend Mr. Behauddin Gashi, and the mufti of Elbasan, Mr. Agim Duka. The Prime Minister gave a short speech, where he revealed his plan for the construction of the Great Mosque of Namazgja in Tirana, stressing that it would be a mosque without a "tower". One of the issues he touched upon was the open debate with the Kruja family regarding the compensation of a piece of land where the mosque would be built, a well-known phenomenon for ownership challenges in Albania.

After the speech, Prime Minister Rama addressed Mr. Brucaj with the words: "Now it's your turn to do the task, I finished mine." This was a decisive moment for the mosque project, which had already started a wide public debate. At that time, the Council of Theologists was also created, a body with important names in the field of Islamic theology in Albania. Mayor Brucaj organized a special meeting at the Riza Pasha mosque in Durrës, where the issue of ownership, state and construction of the mosque was discussed in detail. After the debate, a consensual decision was taken clarifying that the mosque was not being built on occupied land, as was spread on social media.

This decision gave me satisfaction, as I had contributed with a detailed analysis of 11 pages regarding the issue of the mosque. A few months later, an official visit by the former Prime Minister of Turkey, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdo?an, now president of Turkey, for the inauguration of the works of the great mosque in Tirana, sealed this project. The inauguration was attended by the chairman of the KMSH, Baba Edmond Brahimaj, prominent theologians and representatives of civil and religious society. I remember taking a picture with imam Bilal and imam Elvis Naci, as a memory of the long journey and efforts to build a magnificent mosque in the heart of Tirana.

This mosque represents not only a symbol of the religious identity of Albanian Muslims, but also a deep historical and cultural connection of Albania with its Islamic heritage and natural relations with Turkey. Like any major project, it faced challenges and controversies, including protests and complaints about its impact on the city's architecture, as well as concerns over the so-called "return of Ottomanism" to Albania. The design of the mosque, its position and impact on the public space was widely debated.

However, the challenges did not stop the progress of the project. The Turkish government's investment, through Dijanet, proved that despite internal voices, this project was a great achievement for Albanian Muslims. While the debate on issues such as FETÖ and Turkey's influence in Albania continues in the media and politics, the importance of building this mosque as a step forward for the Albanian Muslim community is undeniable.

What remains important is that this project will leave a permanent mark on the social and cultural structure of Albania. At the end of the day, the Namazgja mosque will stand as a monument of religious coexistence and efforts to preserve Islamic heritage in a country where cultural and religious diversity has played an important role over the centuries./ CNA