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Stockholm Mosque

Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan's Mosque (Swedish: Zaid Ben Sultan Al Nahayans moské, Arabic: جامع زايد بن سلطان آل نهيان), commonly known as the Stockholm Mosque (Stockholms moské) or the Stockholm Grand Mosque (Stockholms stora moské), is the largest mosque in Stockholm, Sweden. It is located at Kapellgränd 10, adjacent to the small park Björns trädgård, in the Södermalm district of Stockholm. Inaugurated in 2000, the mosque is administered by the Islamic Association in Stockholm.

This article is about a mosque in Stockholm, Sweden. For other uses, see Sheikh Zayed Mosque.

History[edit]

Discussions for a new mosque in the Stockholm area had been going on for over twenty years before the plans were realized in 2000.[1] The first proposal was to use the building Borgerskapets änkhus at Norrtull.[1] Other places that were discussed were Observatorielunden, Kristineberg, Skärholmen, Tensta and Jarlaplan.[1]


In March 1995 the city council in Stockholm decided, after first consulting Muslim leaders, to convert the old electric power station Katarinastationen ("the Katarina Station") into a mosque. The listed building, designed by the Art Nouveau architect Ferdinand Boberg and completed in 1903, was already influenced by "Moorish" Islamic architecture in its original version. Boberg had been inspired after a visit to Morocco and made the building turned to Mecca and with tall window vaults.[1]


In 1996 the building was sold by the city of Stockholm to the Islamic Association in Stockholm for SEK 8 million.[1] However, the building of the mosque was delayed due to protests and appeals, and construction began first in 1999. On 8 June 2000 the mosque was inaugurated.[1] The mosque was built with financial support from the individual Muslims in Sweden and abroad. One of the largest financiers was Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, principal founder and former head of state of the U.A.E., whom the mosque was named after.


In 2010, according to deputy chairman Abdallah Salah, many are sent to the mosque by the Prison and Probation Service and the Public Employment Service.[2]


In 2013, Femen activists Aliaa Elmahdy and two others staged a protest in the mosque against Sharia law and the oppression of women. They were arrested by police for disturbing public order.[3]

Islamic Relief

Muslim Youth of Sweden

The mosque is a member of umbrella organization Islamic Association of Sweden.[18] The mosque houses a number of Muslim community organisations on its premises:[19]

Capacity[edit]

The mosque can accommodate 2,000 people and the building includes a library, bookshop, gym, offices, lecture halls and a large kitchen.[1] The building also has a café and restaurant.

Islam in Sweden

The in Abu Dhabi, the U.A.E.

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

official website (in Swedish)

Islamiska förbundet i Stockholm

(in Swedish)

Stockholms moské

in the Islam Utbildning website

Some images