Zagreb Mosque

The Zagreb Mosque stands in the Borovje neighbourhood of Croatia’s capital. Built between 1981 and 1987, it is the largest mosque in the country. The complex includes an Islamic secondary school and a cultural centre. The Emir of Sharjah donated two and a half million dollars to fund its construction. When completed, it became the biggest religious building in the former Yugoslavia after Zagreb Cathedral. The architects were Džemal Čelić and Mirza Gološ from Sarajevo, and the calligraphic work was done by Ešref Kovačević. The mosque’s opening in September 1987 drew nearly seventy thousand people. It replaced an earlier mosque that had operated briefly in the Meštrović Pavilion. The new site was chosen after earlier plans in Srebrnjak and Sloboština were abandoned. The complex covers about ten thousand square metres and includes a fifty-one-metre minaret. The design blends traditional Islamic elements with modern construction methods. Inside, the mihrab is shaped as a parabolic projection with geometric calligraphy. Two medallions with the name Allah flank the niche, reflecting a focus on monotheism. The prayer hall follows traditional functions while using contemporary forms. The surrounding Borovje area is residential, giving the mosque a quiet setting. The complex also houses administrative offices, a library and residential quarters.