The construction work is underway at the Central Mosque in Kosovo’s capital, Priştine, built by the Presidency of Religious Affairs and the Türkiye Diyanet Foundation in co-operation with the Islamic Union of Kosovo (Religious Affairs).
An estimated 10,000 people will be able to pray simultaneously in the Central Mosque, the largest in the country when it opens worship, designed by architect Sinan’s masterpiece, the Selimiye Mosque.
Bünyamin Albayrak, Counsellor for Religious Services at the Turkish Embassy in Priştine, stated the basic operations of the mosque have been completed and its construction is continuing.
Stating that the mosque will make a financial and spiritual contribution to Kosovo when completed, Albayrak said, “Immediately below our mosque, the parking lot with a capacity of about 250 vehicles, the conference hall, the youth center, the library, the reading hall, the Quran courses, the meeting halls will be located within the body of this mosque.”
Stating that they expect support from benefactors in Türkiye with the understanding of “You can set a brick you too”, Albayrak used the following expressions:
“Of course, as a present from Muslims in Türkiye and our benevolent brothers to the faithful brothers in Kosovo, it is aimed to be completed as soon as possible, in about two years. This will be the greatest work of our great temple brotherhood. The land of Fatihan, the land of the child, Kosovo, the great one of Murat Hudavendigar, is very important to us. There has been a brotherhood here for 6 centuries. Albanians, all Muslims, we lived together, we became relatives, we became brothers. We’ve used this opportunity to make history together. At the moment our construction is going at a great pace. From very small amounts to very large amounts, our benefactor brothers are reaching out. We at this moment once again invite our benevolent brothers to protect and claim this mosque.”
Albayrak said, “Our mosque construction sits on approximately 8 thousand 100 square meters. Our basic operations have been completed. “Our brothers, all the people who work in this great temple, “are willing to complete this mosque with great speed, energy, hopefully, as soon as possible,” he said.
The Priştine Central Mosque is intended to be a symbol of unity and brotherhood from the past to the future as a trace of centuries-long unity in the Balkans.
