Belgium's Wallonia Region Inaugurates Its Largest Mosque, Funded by Local Community
The mosque is the result of a decade-long, community-driven funding initiative that amassed €4.5 million without any governmental or foreign financial aid, Euronews reported on Tuesday.
Spanning 1,300 square meters, the mosque's modern white edifice is distinguished by a 450-square meter prayer hall topped with a dome.
In a departure from traditional designs, the mosque features no minarets yet can accommodate up to 600 worshippers.
Mehmet Aydogdu, Liège's Cultural and Intercultural Affairs Representative, pointed to the vision behind the architecture: “Our idea was not to make architecture related to Central Anatolia, the Middle East or North Africa. It was to reach universality – therefore a 'Belgitude.'”
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The mosque's site is a reclaimed coal field that once witnessed waves of Turkish miners, a legacy dating back to a 1964 labor migration pact with Turkey.
Imam Ertugrul Yilmaz, a Wallonia native who later studied in Turkey, expressed his deep connection to the community: “It’s with great pride for me to come back, to be an imam, because I grew up with them. I know them, they know me. We can work together.
“We would like to welcome everyone, do activities together, show that we live together, that we are also Belgian, that we are part of this community.”
Beyond its role as a place of worship, the mosque complex includes a cultural centre accessible to all, hosting a variety of events such as conferences, educational programs, and communal activities, further promoting dialogue and understanding among diverse communities.
Source: Agencies
