Heart of Chechnya Mosque

Grozny, Chechnya, Russia

Officially named after Akhmad Kadyrov, this is one of the largest mosques in Europe, modeled on the Blue Mosque in Istanbul. It was built as a symbol of Chechen rebuilding after the wars of the 1990s and 2000s.

Historical Context

The city of Grozny was devastated during two wars between Chechen separatists and the Russian federal government. By 2000, much of the city had been reduced to rubble, with the United Nations describing it as the most destroyed city on earth. The mosque was built between 2006 and 2008 as part of a massive reconstruction program directed by Ramzan Kadyrov. Turkish architects and artisans designed and decorated the mosque in the classical Ottoman style, using marble from Turkey and chandeliers from Swarovski. The mosque can accommodate over 10,000 worshippers. Its inauguration in 2008 was attended by dignitaries from across the Muslim world. The surrounding square and parkland were designed t…