In Bosnia, the famous Ferhadija Mosque, destroyed during the war, rises again

Ferhadija Mosque - original state; source islamicspots

Banja Luka (Bosnia and Herzegovina) - In Bosnia, the Ferhadija Mosque has been successfully rebuilt, which was destroyed by Serbs during the war in the 1990s. The mosque with its minaret once again adorns the administrative center of Bosnian Serbs, Banja Luka, but there are insufficient funds for the construction of the interiors, writes the DPA agency. Ferhadija was one of the oldest and most important mosques in the Balkans.
    The historical gem was destroyed in 1993, with stones taken to landfills, used for street construction, or thrown into the river. A parking lot was established on the site of the mosque, which was on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
    "The Serbs aimed to eliminate all traces of Muslim traditions," said Armin Džindo, who is coordinating the reconstruction of the building, regarding the destruction of the mosque. Builders began in 2001. They managed to secure 60 percent of the original stones, which were found under a four-meter layer of garbage or at the bottom of the river.
    The beginning of construction work brought a surprise, as it was discovered that the 16th-century mosque stood on wooden piles. It is likely that due to these, it survived a strong earthquake in 1969.
    In connection with the commencement of the mosque's reconstruction, protests erupted in Banja Luka in June 2001, during which one person died and several others were injured. Six Serbs were convicted for provoking the violence.
    The funds for the construction mainly come from Turkey, with partial contributions from Spain and Germany. Due to funding issues, construction work had to be temporarily suspended. The construction of the interior of the mosque has not yet even begun. The restoration of the mosque has so far cost 3.5 million euros (70 million crowns), and another million euros is needed to complete it.