The muezzin’s call sounded for the first time on Wednesday for evening prayer at the great mosque of Algiers, the third-largest in the world and the most monumental in Africa, a year and a half after its construction was completed on the background of controversy.
On the eve of the Mawlid festival, the birth of the Prophet of Islam Muhammad, the large prayer hall that can accommodate up to 120,000 faithful was officially inaugurated by Prime Minister Abdelmadjid Djerad and members of the government.
Mr Djerad replaced at short notice President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, transferred Wednesday evening to Germany for “in-depth medical examinations” after cases of Covid-19 in his entourage, according to an official statement.
A more important ceremony is planned on an undetermined date under the presidency of Mr Tebboune to mark the inauguration of the mosque.
“Djamaâ El Djazaïr” (“The mosque of Algiers”), with geometric architecture and which extends over 27.75 hectares, yield it in gigantism only to the Al-Haram Mosque in Mecca and to that of the Prophet in Medina, the two main holy places of Islam, in Saudi Arabia.
Its minaret, which overlooks the famous bay of Algiers, is the highest in the world: it rises to 267 meters or 43 floors served by panoramic elevators.
The Andalusian-style interior is adorned with six kilometres of calligraphy, noble materials (wood, marble, alabaster) and turquoise blue prayer rugs with floral motifs.
Its designers praise its “Algerian identity”.
