Paris Mosque

Infobox religious building


caption=Minaret of the Paris Mosque
building_name=Paris Mosque
location=Paris
FRA
geo=coord|48|50|31|N|2|21|18|E|region:FR_type:landmark
religious_affiliation=Islam
website= [http://www.mosquee-de-paris.org www.mosquee-de-paris.org/]
architect=
architecture_type=Mosque
architecture_style=Mudéjar Style
year_completed=1926
construction_cost=
capacity=
dome_quantity=
minaret_quantity=1
minaret_height=33m

The Grande Mosquée de Paris ("Great Mosque of Paris"), located in the 5th arrondissement, was founded after World War I as a sign of France's gratefullness to the Muslim "tirailleurs" from the colonies who had fought against Germany. The Mosque was built following the "mudéjar" style, and its minaret is 33 meteres high. President Gaston Doumergue inaugurated it on July 15, 1926. Ahmad al-Alawi (1869-1934), an Algerian Sufi, founder of one of the most important modern Sufi orders, the Darqawiyya Alawiyya, a branch of the Shadhiliyya, led the first communal prayer to inaugurate the newly built mosque in the presence of the French president. It is now lead by "mufti" Dalil Boubakeur, who is also president of the French Council of the Muslim Faith, created in 2002.

Gallery

External links

* [http://www.mosquee-de-paris.org/ Official website of the Mosque (in French)]

* [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12812201/ MSNBC's coverage]