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Kazakhstan

Central Asia's Largest Mosque Opens In Kazakhstan

The Khazrat Sultan Mosque in central Astana can hold up to 5,000 worshipers.
The Khazrat Sultan Mosque in central Astana can hold up to 5,000 worshipers.

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Kazakhstan has unveiled a new mosque in its capital, Astana, that is the biggest Muslim worship facility in Central Asia.

President Nursultan Nazarbaev attended the July 6 unveiling of the Khazret Sultan Mosque, timed to coincide with the 14th anniversary of the city's foundation.

July 6 is also Nazarbaev's 72nd birthday.

The gleaming white structure took less than two years to build and is large enough to accommodate 5,000 worshipers.

Around 70 percent of Kazakhstan's 16 million people are Muslim. Most are followers of the Hanafi school of Sunni Islam.

One worker died when a fire broke out during the construction of the mosque, about six months ago.

Based on reporting by AP and AFP
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by: +Aziz from: NYC
July 06, 2012 16:34
More pictures on this post please! This place must be stunning

by: Anonymous
July 06, 2012 19:05
It's really funny. In places like Afghanistan, Tatarstan, Tadjikistan, Kazakhstan people like to design huge Korans, people compete for records for the biggest and most expensive Koran, they build new mosques and religious schools, etc. despite the fact that there are already many mosques and religious schools, but few universities, few schools where you could learn about arts, anthropology, philosophy, science, languages, etc.
in some religious schools this is probably possible. still, few religious students who attend seminars in Pakistan and Afghanistan start respecting their sisters, engage in critical discussions and interpretations of texts. some, as the world knows, start thinking that they are some chosen guys who have to kill...I'm not against this particular mosque. nevertheless, it's kind of peculiar why I don't read an article about a new university, a new project for religious tolerance, a conference for a solution of specific conflicts (like honour killings, violence against religious minorities, violence against women), conferences that expose certain untenable interpretations, or at least evoke counterarguments, etc. In short, events involving the guys who donate the money for the Korans, the mosques, etc.
strange!
In Response

by: Eugenio from: Vienna
July 07, 2012 09:48
Dear Anonymous, most probably you "don't read an article about a new university, a new project for religious tolerance" etc for the simple reason that the govt of Saudi Arabia is not funding this kind of publications - so, the stuff of RFE/RL is very sorry, but any such publication would be outside of the field of their competence :-)).

by: Jack from: US
July 07, 2012 15:01
most of these mosques are built on Saudi money and stuffed with Saudi-"educated" imams who preach hate and intolerance in accordance with Wahhabi cult. US government considers Saudi Arabia a strategic ally, even as Saudi finance Taliban, Al Qaeda, and most other terrorist groups around the world
In Response

by: Peter from: montreal
July 07, 2012 16:18
what you write is true and factual. Saudi Arabia is only one of three countries that recognised the taliban gvt in the late 90s.The Saudi gvt finances most of all the mosque construction in Quebec and considering converting the empty Catholics churches into mosques.

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