Algeria unveiled an immense mosque on its Mediterranean coastline this Sunday, concluding a project that underwent significant changes over the years due to political turbulence.
Originally envisioned as a symbol of state-sponsored strength and religiosity, the Great Mosque of Algiers, constructed by a Chinese firm throughout the 2010s, now stands as the world’s third-largest mosque and the largest outside Islam’s holiest cities.
Featuring a towering minaret standing at 869 feet (265 meters), the mosque’s prayer room can accommodate 120,000 worshippers. Its modernist design incorporates Arab and North African elements to pay homage to Algerian tradition, along with amenities such as a helicopter landing pad and a library capable of housing one million books.
The inauguration ceremony, attended by Algerian President Abdelmajid Tebboune, emphasized the mosque’s role in guiding Muslims “toward goodness and moderation,” according to Ali Mohamed Salabi, the General Secretary of the World Union of Muslim Ulemas.
The promotion of a moderate form of Islam has been a central focus in Algeria since the government quelled an Islamist-led rebellion in the 1990s.
Despite its colossal dimensions, the mosque has faced controversy and delays during its seven-year construction period, including concerns about the seismic risks of its chosen site. The official cost of the project was $898 million.
Originally conceived by former President Abdelaziz Bouteflika as his legacy, the mosque was intended to be named the “Abdelaziz Bouteflika Mosque.” However, due to protests in 2019 that led to Bouteflika’s resignation, his plans were thwarted, and the mosque now stands without a namesake.
The project, along with other major developments during the Bouteflika era, has been marred by allegations of corruption and suspected kickbacks to contractors.
The mosque has been open to international tourists and state visitors for approximately five years, officially opening to the public in time for nightly prayers during the upcoming Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
