Czech Muslims celebrate end of Ramadan in hotel - Prague Daily Monitor
ČTK |
31 August 2011
Brno, Aug 30 (CTK) - About 400 Muslims based in the Czech Republic Tuesday celebrated the end of the holy month of Ramadan in the conference hall of the International Hotel because their mosque was too small for them, Munib Hasan, head of the Islamic Foundation in Brno, said Tuesday.
Last year, the Muslims had to rent a basketball hall in Brno for their prayers.
Hasan said a new mosque is needed in Brno.
The mosque, the oldest one in the country, was opened in Brno in 1998. A few dozens of Muslims took part in the prayers then.
Another mosque is in Prague.
Hasan pointed out that there is not enough space in the current mosque and the number of believers has been increasing.
Muslims from the whole region arrive to celebrate the end of Ramadan.
Hasan said the capacity of the mosque is insufficient not only during Islamic holidays but also for regular Friday prayers that are attended by 160 to 200 people.
"We must be seeking a permanent solution. Although some people don't like it, we need a new mosque in Brno," he said.
Hasan said an old house that could be rebuilt would suffice. Muslims have been seeking an old building that could be turned into a mosque for several months but so far in vain.
Due to negative reactions from the locals, the Muslims have decided not to have a minaret in their house of prayer.
According to the Islamic Centre in Prague, about 12,000 Muslims live in the Czech Republic, with four Muslim communities based in Prague, Brno, Teplice, north Bohemia, and Hradec Kralove, east Bohemia. More than 500 of the local Muslims are of Czech origin.
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