The minaret of the Great Mosque of the Cinquantenaire will be dismantled

“During a preparatory inspection for the future renovation of the building (relating to the roof. Consequently, the facades and the interior), it was found that the minaret has serious structural damage and that its stability is threatenedcommunicates the RoD of buildings. Similarly, The metal structure inside the minaret is rusty. For example, masonry as well as the concrete belt beams were damaged by water infiltrations. However, “ For the time being, the minaret has been covered with safety nets and additional reinforcements have been placed inside. In addition, Sensors also make it possible to follow the possible movements of the minaret.

The idyll that gave birth to the great mosque in Brussels

This will not be enough, however. Consequently, “”In consultation with all the parties concerned (the Grande Mosque. For example, the Brussels police, the City of Brussels, minaret great mosque cinquantenaire will Brussels Environment and Urban), it was decided to partially dismantle the minaret. This is the only solution in order to guarantee the security of passers -by. visitors to the mosque “adds the management. The two upper parts (11 meters long in total) will be dismantled. The copper bulb surmounted by a moon (5.5 meters long) located above the minaret will be removed separately.

In his decree. Philippe Close evokes reinforcement works carried out last April, but also an absence of maintenance of certain parts of the building. This building has indeed been pinned several times in recent years for its poor condition due. in part, by the difficult management of the site bringing together multiple worship, regional and federal actors.

A symbolic building – Minaret great mosque cinquantenaire will

As a reminder. the Mosque of the Cinquantenaire, which welcomes five daily prayers and 2,500 faithful on Friday noon is a very minaret great mosque cinquantenaire will symbolic building for the country’s Muslim community. Designed on the occasion of the 1897 Universal Exhibition. this classified building was revised in the 1970s to be transformed into a mosque. In recent years. it has been at the heart of controversies in view of interference that the Saudi or Moroccan powers would have exercised there, as well as the suspected prevalence of Salafist speeches. Last April. in Parliament, the Minister of Justice Annelies Verlinden (CD&V) claimed that state security “is currently observing any signs of extremism within the Great Mosque “. Today entrusted to the Great Mosque Management Association (AGMB). the mosque is not officially recognized by the Brussels region as a place of worship.

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