Ljubljana Mosque
Encyclopedia
The Islamic Religio-Cultural Center , colloquially known as the Ljubljana mosque ( or ) is a Sunni mosque
and cultural-center complex to be built in the Bežigrad
district of Ljubljana
, the capital of Slovenia
. It is the culmination of a decades-long effort by the Islamic Community of Slovenia. A library, a classroom, an ablution fountain
and the Imam
's offices and quarters are to be included in the complex.
republics who gravitated to Slovenia during the 1960s and 70s. A permit for the construction of a mosque was first requested in 1969, but was not granted; the effort was revived during the 1990s. In the 2002 census, 2.4% of the population of Slovenia (47,000 people) were listed as Muslim
, the second largest faith community after Roman Catholics.
Along with Athens
, Ljubljana had been one of only a few Europe
an capitals without a mosque, though there has (since 1989) been a small one in the town of Jesenice
.
in July 2004.
In December 2008, city councilor Mihael Jarc began gathering signatures for a second referendum, this time to delete the mosque's proposed 40 m minaret
, over the opposition of mayor Zoran Janković
. This time the Constitutional Court approved the signature-gathering process; the mayor however vowed to continue to fight it.
The reaction of national political parties has been generally muted; the LDS
and Zares
parties support construction of the mosque; the SD
, DESUS
and SDS
have been neutral on the matter, while the SNS
has been vehemently opposed.
Mosque
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...
and cultural-center complex to be built in the Bežigrad
Bežigrad
The Bežigrad District or simply Bežigrad is a city district in the northern part of Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. It encompasses the area between the southern rail line to the south, the Upper Carniola rail line to the west, the highway loop to the north, and Šmartno Street and the Žale...
district of Ljubljana
Ljubljana
Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia and its largest city. It is the centre of the City Municipality of Ljubljana. It is located in the centre of the country in the Ljubljana Basin, and is a mid-sized city of some 270,000 inhabitants...
, the capital of Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
. It is the culmination of a decades-long effort by the Islamic Community of Slovenia. A library, a classroom, an ablution fountain
Wudu
Wuḍhu is the Islamic procedure for washing parts of the body using water often in preparation for formal prayers...
and the Imam
Imam
An imam is an Islamic leadership position, often the worship leader of a mosque and the Muslim community. Similar to spiritual leaders, the imam is the one who leads Islamic worship services. More often, the community turns to the mosque imam if they have a religious question...
's offices and quarters are to be included in the complex.
History
Many Muslims were among the wave of internal migrants from other YugoslavYugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
republics who gravitated to Slovenia during the 1960s and 70s. A permit for the construction of a mosque was first requested in 1969, but was not granted; the effort was revived during the 1990s. In the 2002 census, 2.4% of the population of Slovenia (47,000 people) were listed as Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
, the second largest faith community after Roman Catholics.
Along with Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, Ljubljana had been one of only a few Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an capitals without a mosque, though there has (since 1989) been a small one in the town of Jesenice
Jesenice Mosque
The Jesenice Mosque is a Sunni mosque located in the town of Jesenice, Slovenia, on Viktor Kejžar street, no 19. It is the center of the Jesenice jamaat....
.
Controversy
The 1990s proposal produced a nationalist backlash, with considerable public opposition to the mosque. The City Council made an attempt to call a municipal referendum to prohibit the construction of the mosque in late 2003. Opposed by Ljubljana mayor Danica Simšič as an "constitutionally-forbidden encroachment on the constitutionally-guaranteed rights of a religious minority", the referendum was rejected by the Constitutional CourtConstitutional Court of Slovenia
The Constitutional Court of Slovenia is a special court established by the Slovenian Constitution. Since its inception, the Court has been located in the city of Ljubljana.-Jurisdiction:...
in July 2004.
In December 2008, city councilor Mihael Jarc began gathering signatures for a second referendum, this time to delete the mosque's proposed 40 m minaret
Minaret
A minaret مناره , sometimes مئذنه) is a distinctive architectural feature of Islamic mosques, generally a tall spire with an onion-shaped or conical crown, usually either free standing or taller than any associated support structure. The basic form of a minaret includes a base, shaft, and gallery....
, over the opposition of mayor Zoran Janković
Zoran Jankovic
Zoran Janković may refer to:*Zoran Janković , footballer*Zoran Janković , formerly chair of Mercator retail chain, and currently mayor of Ljubljana...
. This time the Constitutional Court approved the signature-gathering process; the mayor however vowed to continue to fight it.
The reaction of national political parties has been generally muted; the LDS
Liberal Democracy of Slovenia
Liberal Democracy of Slovenia is a liberal political party in Slovenia. It is led by Katarina Kresal and is a member of the Liberal International and the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party...
and Zares
Zares
Zares – Social Liberals is a social-liberal political party in Slovenia. Its president is Gregor Golobič, former Secretary General of the Liberal Democracy of Slovenia and former close advisor to the late Janez Drnovšek, who had previously abandoned active political involvement due to...
parties support construction of the mosque; the SD
Social Democrats (Slovenia)
The Social Democrats is a centre-left political party in Slovenia, currently led by Borut Pahor. From 1993 until 2005, the party was known as the United List of Social Democrats .-Origins:...
, DESUS
Democratic Party of Pensioners of Slovenia
The Democratic Party of Pensioners of Slovenia is a Slovenian political party led by Karl Erjavec.DeSUS was a member of the government led by prime minister Janez Janša until 2008...
and SDS
Slovenian Democratic Party
The Slovenian Democratic Party , known until 2003 as the Social Democratic Party of Slovenia is a Slovenian centre-right liberal conservative and Christian democratic party...
have been neutral on the matter, while the SNS
Slovenian National Party
The Slovenian National Party is a extreme nationalist political party in Slovenia, led by Zmago Jelinčič Plemeniti. The party is renowned for its euroscepticism and opposes Slovenia's membership in NATO...
has been vehemently opposed.