Flash News

Drenova prison police officer arrested for bringing drugs and illegal items into cell

Lavrov: NATO is risking self-destruction with new military budget

Kurti and Vučić "face off" tomorrow in Skopje

Construction worker dies after falling from scaffolding in Berat

The prosecution sends two Korça Municipality officials to trial

E-TJERA

Inauguration of the Namazgja Mosque, VOA: Erdogan used the opportunity to attack Israel harshly

Politiko 2024-10-10 20:36:55

Inauguration of the Namazgja Mosque, VOA: Erdogan used the opportunity to attack

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan jointly inaugurated the Namazgja Mosque in Tirana on Thursday. While Mr. Rama emphasized the fact that with this work, the Muslim Community, as well as other religious communities, will have its central object of worship, President Erdogan used his speech at the ceremony evoking Turkey's centuries-old ties with the Balkans, for concluded with strong accusations against Israel for the conflict in Gaza speaking of "state terrorism against Palestine".

Erected on a land owned by the Albanian Muslim Community, the construction of the Namazgya Mosque was financed by the Committee for Religious Affairs in Turkey and the religious foundation, Diyanet, who offered 30 million euros. The works have long been finished, but the inauguration of the Mosque was hindered for several years. The Turkish authorities have considered the leaders of the Albanian Muslim Community to be under the influence of the network of the cleric Fetah Gülen, who is considered by Ankara to be responsible for the failed coup d'état in 2016.

In today's ceremony, the senior leaders of the Albanian Muslim Community were not present. This Community was represented by the Mufti of Tirana, Gazmend Teqja, who, however, had no role in the ceremony which was closed by a Turkish imam. It is learned that Mufti Teqja will also be the head of the Namazgja Mosque. It is expected to be administered by a foundation directed by its imam Teqja, but in its composition there will also be representatives from Turkey.

In his speech, Prime Minister Rama emphasized the religious harmony in Albania, while referring to the Koran, he used quotes from a well-known figure of the country Haxhi Hafiz Ibrahim Dalliu, one of the architects of the declaration of independence of Albania in 1912 from Turkey. "This mosque gives full and meaningful meaning to the square of 4 shrines of the capital by completing the outline of this finally unfolded spiritual flag of our identity wrapped within it. A flag that gives birth to Saint Constantine, reconciles Islam and Christianity, proclaims brotherhood between religions, a generous flag for humanity", said Mr. Rama, who ended his speech by mentioning "the flag of Skenderbeu and Ismail Qemali".

Turkish President Erdogan has pointed out several times that the Namazgja Mosque is the largest in the Balkans, a region with which Turkey's ties date back centuries, he recalled, evoking the past of the Ottoman Empire. "Namazgja Mosque, the largest mosque in the Balkans, which will now take its place in our memories, which have very deep roots, exceeding 6 centuries. We have designed the great mosque of Namazgja as a structure which in its interior carries, transmits values ​​from tradition to the future, thus integrating other values ​​of our antiquity and history and up to the newest technology that has been used during construction, and especially, as you can see, the classic Ottoman architecture, which dominates the Balkans, is served very nicely."

Immediately afterwards, he again used the opportunity to strongly attack Israel for the conflict in Gaza, talking about "genocide" and "state terrorism applied in Palestine", and underlining that "it is an obligation of morality, of our human conscience for all those who feel, have hearts, stand against you".

The war in Gaza was caused by militants led by Hamas, a terrorist organization declared by the United States, which attacked the southern part of Israel a year ago, killing about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping 250 others. About 100 hostages remain in the hands of the militants, a third of whom are believed to be dead. Meanwhile, the total number of dead since the start of the war has exceeded 42,000 people, according to the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health, which does not distinguish between civilian and militant casualties. VOA

Latest news