ZAGREB MOSQUE - Islamska zajednica u Hrvatskoj

discussions began about building
a new mosque in Zagreb,
which would become the centre
of Islamic religious and
social life; it would also be a
symbol of the important role
of a great number of Muslims
in Croatian and Zagreb public
and cultural life. Although
the authorities tried through
various administrative means
to make the realization of the
project difficult, the foundation-stone
of the new Zagreb
Mosque was laid in 1981, in
what was then a suburb of
Zagreb, but what is now an
area linked to the city centre
by good roads.
The building of the mosque
was dogged by difficulties
but supported by great dedication
and the persistence of
the community at large and
in particular by its building
committee. It was completed
in 1987 when the mosque was
open to the public as a symbol
of an ancient and reborn community.
The mosque transcended
the local Muslim community
and became one of the most
important Islamic centres in
2 2 2
Europe, due to its programme
of religious, social, cultural
and educational activities. It
connected the more recent
Muslim communities in western
Europe with the original
and traditional Islam in southeastern
Europe.
The restoration and
strengthening of the Zagreb
Muslim community after the
opening of the mosque was
confirmed by the final formation
of independent Islamic
religious institutions in the
Republic of Croatia, with their
seat in Zagreb. The Islamic
community in the Republic
of Croatia is active today as
a recognized and independent
religious community, which
agreed its position and significance
by a contract with the
state on mutual relationships.
The institutions of the Islamic
community in the Republic of
Croatia, which is connected
through reis-ul-ulema in Sarajevo
with the Islamic community
in Bosnia and Herzegovina,
are the Sabor of the
Islamic community, as a national
religious representative
body, the Mešihat with the
Zagreb Ramadan candles