A newly built mosque – a religious temple that is already among the largest in the Balkans – was officially opened 20 November in Kardzhali (the Rhodope Mountains) with an official ceremony. The ribbon was cut in the presence of dozens of official guests, representatives of institutions, clergymen and citizens.
The mayor of Kardzhali, Erol Mumun, emphasized the importance of the event for the Muslim community and for the entire city. In his words, the opening of the temple is a “historical moment” that symbolizes the aspiration to build a cohesive society based on mutual respect and peaceful coexistence. He expressed gratitude to all donors, craftsmen, organizations and institutions that contributed to the implementation of the project, noting that their work will remain permanently recorded in the history of the city.
The new mosque is part of a multifunctional Islamic complex with a total covered area of 3,600 sq. m. It has a capacity for over 1,200 worshippers and has been open for worship since 2021. Construction began in 2015 with the support of the Republic of Turkey. The complex has a conference hall for 150 people, a dining room for over 200 people, offices of the regional mufti’s office, study rooms for Quran courses and an underground parking lot for 50 cars.
The architecture of the temple impresses with its two minarets, each about 35 meters high, the many domes and the spacious courtyard.
The ceremony was attended by the Minister of Culture and Tourism of Turkey Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, the Minister of Youth and Sports Osman Ashkan Bak, the Head of the Directorate for Religious Affairs Safi Arpagus, the Ambassador of Turkey to Bulgaria Mehmet Sait Uyanık, the Consul General in Plovdiv Emre Manav, representatives of the MRF, the Chief Mufti of Bulgaria Mustafa Hadji, the Regional Mufti of Kardzhali Basri Eminefendi, the Regional Governor Nikola Chanev, municipal representatives and many citizens.
Illustration: The Town of Kardzhali, Bulgaria.
