Bishkek Central Mosque

Mosque in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

Bishkek Central Mosque

Kyrgyz: Бишкек борбордук мечити
Russian: Центральная мечеть Бишкека

The mosque as seen in 2017.

Religion
Affiliation| Islam
Location
Location| Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

Shown within Kyrgyzstan

Geographic coordinates| 42°53′01″N 74°37′12″E﻿ / ﻿42.8836°N 74.6201°E﻿ / 42.8836; 74.6201
Architecture
Type| mosque
Funded by| Diyanet
Date established| 2 September 2018
Groundbreaking| 2012
Minaret(s)| 4
Interior

The Central Mosque of Imam Sarakhsi, commonly known as the Bishkek Central Mosque (Kyrgyz: Бишкек борбордук мечити, romanized: Bişkek borborduk meçiti, Russian: Центральная мечеть Бишкека, romanized: Tsentral'naya mechet' Bishkeka) is a mosque in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.[1]

The construction of the mosque started in 2012 and it was inaugurated in 2018. It was funded by the Turkish Diyanet. It is one of several mosques funded by Turkey across the world.[2] Built in an Ottoman revival style, the mosque is one of the largest in Central Asia. It has the capacity to accommodate 30,000 worshipers.

## History

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Construction of the mosque started in 2012.[3] It was later decided that the mosque would be named after Al-Sarakhsi, a medieval Islamic scholar.

The mosque was inaugurated on 2 September 2018.[4] The opening ceremony was attended by Kyrgyz President Sooronbai Jeenbekov and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan.[5]

## Architecture

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Bishkek Central Mosque illuminated at night

The mosque is built in an Ottoman revival style, with four minarets, each with three balconies. It resembles the Kocatepe Mosque in design.[3] The mosque has a capacity of 9000 people in the closed space, and 30,000 people overall.[3]

## See also

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* Islam in Kyrgyzstan

## References

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1. ^ AA, Daily Sabah with (2017-06-25). "Turkish foundation completes Central Asia's largest mosque in Kyrgyz capital Bishkek". Daily Sabah. Retrieved 2021-06-28.
2. ^ Beck, John M. (2019-06-01). "Turkey's Global Soft-Power Push Is Built on Mosques". The Atlantic. Archived from the original on 2019-06-01. Retrieved 2021-06-28.
3. ^ a b c AA, Daily Sabah with (2018-09-02). "Erdoğan inaugurates Central Asia's largest mosque in Kyrgyzstan". Daily Sabah. Retrieved 2021-06-28.
4. ^ Ashiraliev, Elmurat (August 28, 2019). "Kyrgyzstan Attempts to Isolate Local Islam". thediplomat.com. Archived from the original on 2019-08-28. Retrieved 2021-06-28.
5. ^ "С участием Жээнбекова и Эрдогана в Бишкеке открылась одна из самых больших мечетей в ЦА (фото)". Kabar (in Russian). 2018-09-02. Archived from the original on 2018-09-04. Retrieved 2021-06-28.

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