The Maldivian government is set to begin replacing several historic mosques in the capital, Male’, with new structures, Islamic Minister Dr. Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed announced.
In a social media post on Tuesday night, Shaheem said that the foundation stone for the M. Boduge Mosque would be laid on Wednesday, with construction expected to finish within two years.
He also noted that the Barubaree Mosque, whose construction began late last year, is scheduled for completion and inauguration in December.
Additionally, the minister confirmed that work on the Zikuraa Mosque will commence in January, adding that the construction site has already been handed over and the design process is currently in progress.
Shaheem said the Salam Mosque in Villimale’ will be demolished and rebuilt as a modern mosque, and that the project has already been awarded and is in the design stage.
Construction of a modern mosque in Hulhumale’ Phase 1, on the site of the current temporary mosque, is also nearing completion, he said.
“All these projects are expected to cost about MVR 200 million, and sponsorships have been arranged for all of them,” Shaheem wrote on his blog.
He added that once completed, Henveiru Masjid Al-Afeefudheen will be the only remaining old mosque in Male’, which he said is also expected to be rebuilt next year.
Shaheem said that while dilapidated mosques in Male’ will be redeveloped to modern standards, heritage mosques will be preserved.
The new mosques, he said, are being designed to serve academic and social functions in addition to worship.
Source: ABNA