FLASH NEWS
The reopening of the Et'hem Bey Mosque without the permission of the authorities 35 years ago
2026-01-19 00:05:22 / JETË
The Muslim Community of Albania celebrates today the 35th anniversary of the reopening of the Et'hem Bey Mosque and the restoration of freedom of religion.
The Et'hem Bey Mosque is an 18th-century mosque, a cultural monument, located in the center of the capital.
It was closed during the communist regime, as were all other places of worship across the country.
The mosque was reopened on January 18, 1991 by a group of initiators such as: Xhavit and Iljaz Alimehmeti, Ramazan Rysheku, Ibrahim Balla, Mehmet Sinella, etc., restoring its former function as a place of worship of God. The reopening was done without the permission of the authorities.
The Muslim community remembers that in 1991, about 10,000 people gathered around it, yet the police did not intervene.
The Et'hem Bey Mosque is covered in frescoes on the exterior and on the portico, which depict trees, waterfalls, and bridges, which are rarely seen in Islamic art, where geometric shapes and calligraphy predominate as ornaments.
On the occasion of this important anniversary that marked the return of religious life in the country, the Muslim Community of Albania organized an activity in the premises of the Et'hem Bey Mosque, from where 35 years ago the voice of the call to prayer was heard again after several decades of silence.
The program included readings from the Quran, experiences and testimonies from this important period, as well as appreciation for personalities who have contributed over the years to the service of religion and knowledge.
Built in 1820, the Et'hem Bey Mosque in Tirana is one of the rarest monuments of our cultural heritage, which underwent restoration in 2018 as part of a cooperation agreement between the Ministry of Culture and the Muslim Community of Albania.
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