Posted on 09/12/2011 6:33:48 AM PDT by marshmallow
Moscow, September 12, Interfax - The historical building of the Moscow Grand Mosque was demolished in Moscow last week.
"Workers used special equipment to demolish the building of the historical mosque to the foundation," Albir Krganov, first deputy chairman of the Central Spiritual Directorate of Muslims and mufti of Moscow and the Central Region of Russia told Interfax-Religion.
Krganov said he was surprised that the day selected for the demolition of the mosque was September 11.
"A tragedy occurred in Moscow on the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks in the U.S." he said.
Earlier, some leaders of Islamic organizations in Russia criticized the plans of demolishing the Moscow Grand Mosque.
"The issue of demolishing the historical place of worship in Moscow has been stirring the minds of Muslims for several years. It is regrettable that the demolition is initiated not by some descendant of theomachists, who blasted churches of traditional religions or prayer towers of Tatar mosques in the expanses of Russia in the 1930s, but a person who bears the highest spiritual title of mufti," a joint statement of Islamic leaders obtained by Interfax-Religion on Monday says.
Ahead of the Eid ul-Fitr, the news came that the demolition of the historical building of the mosque in Moscow would begin after the end of the fast, and "this was confirmed during the festive sermon" in which head of the Council of Muftis of Russia Ravil Gainutdin "announced the pending demolition of the mosque," the statement says.
For several years, mufti Gainutdin has kept the Tatar community in Moscow "nervous by loudly declaring that the historical building of the Moscow Grand Mosque is not properly oriented toward Mecca and therefore poses no historic value," the statement says.
"Furthermore, he points out the similarity of the architecture of the mosque with the appearance of the Moscow grand synagogue. But that is no reason to demolish the mosque," the statement says.
Muslim leaders urged the federal authorities, the leadership of Moscow and Tatarstan, the World Congress of Tatars, local Tatar communities, public and religious figures in Russia" to raise their voices in defense of Tatar and consequently Russian Islamic heritage, noting that the authorities "have the right to demand that Ravil Gainutdin give up his insane idea of demolishing the historical building of the Moscow Grand Mosque," the statement says.
The statement was signed by head of the Central Muslim Board of Russia Talgat Tajuddin, mufti of Moscow and Central Russia Albir Krganov, the leaders of the All-Russian Muslim Board, head of the Muslim Board of St. Petersburg and Northwest Russia Jafar Ponchayev, the muftis of Rostov, Chelyabinsk, Kurgan and Astrakhan Regions and the Khanty-Mansiisk Autonomous Districts, the leaders of the Russian Islamic Heritage movement and others.
SO then there isn’t going to be another mosque built to replace it?
Interesting. Just two years ago, they were rebuilding it.
Russian President Plans Visit To Moscow’s Grand Mosque
http://www.rferl.org/content/Russian_President_Plans_Visit_To_Moscows_Grand_Mosque/1759735.html
June 19, 2009
The Grand Mosque in Moscow has been under reconstruction since 2006.
Although Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov had promised that work would be completed by 2007, the mosque — touted as Russia’s largest — is still under construction.
“At that time the committee decided to remove the special protection status paving the way for council’s decision to build a new mosque on the site. The new planned mosque will be able to accommodate more believers.”
The only tragedy is that it wasn’t full of muslim vermin when it was demolished.
So here is the start of a tradition - September 11 is from now on Demolish a Mosque Day.
They did this to make room for the newly rebuilt Mosque.
Moscow Cathedral Mosque taken down for reconstruction
http://vestnikkavkaza.net/news/society/17770.html
The Moscow Cathedral Mosque was razed for reconstruction last week,deputy chairman of the central Muslim administration Albir Krganovsaid, Interfax reports.
Krganov expressed surprise that the building was taken down on Sunday,the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attack in the USA.
Ravil Gaynutdin, head of the Russian Mufti Council, the organizationreconstructing the mosque, said that the building is of no historicvalue.
The Moscow Cathedral Mosque was put on the list of cultural heritageon June 30, 2008. It was removed from the list in November 2009.
Spokesman of the Mufti Council spoke for taking down the mosque onJanuary 21, 2009, it is not pointing directly to Kaaba.
The mosque was built on Vypolzovy Avenue in 1904, financed by a Tatarmerchant Salikh Yerzin.
Just found this; Demolition of Moscow Grand Mosque is "act of unprecedented barbarity" - Arkhnadzor
"No arguments stating that the mosque has to be enlarged can justify the demolition of the building, which has unique historical, cultural, and memorial significance not only to Muslims, but to Moscow in general. Nevertheless, the building was promptly destroyed," the statement says.
What a great idea!
I’m sure they feel that way. But if they build another, then it kind of makes the whole idea of it being an act to get rid of mosques, a moot one.
There is more to this than meets the eye. Islam does not require that the entire mosque "face Mecca". Indeed, many older mosques are oriented east-west, like traditional pagan temples and Christian churches.
It is necessary only that the mosque contain a visible indication of the direction of Mecca, and this is usually done by building a niche in one wall, technically called a mihrab:. The mihrab in Hagia Sophia (I've seen it) is to the south of the main axis of the building.
So there is something about this story that is not being said.
The point is, it is NOT the Russian government pulling down this mosque, it is the Council of Muftis of Russia. Aligned or not, they did it themselves.
Link to the video/audio tape?
I'd hate to see it said that you were making up rumors, so let's get ahead of that promptly.
Thanks marshmallow.
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