The Blackpitts Mosque (Irish: Mosc na gCuithí Dubha) is a mosque in Dublin, Ireland.[1] It has a Sunni orientation.[2] It has a mostly Pakistani membership and is part of the Deobandi movement.[3][4]
| Blackpitts Mosque | |
|---|---|
Mosc na gCuithí Dubha | |
 | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Muslim |
| Sect | Sunni |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | 25–26 Blackpitts, Dublin |
| Country | Republic of Ireland |
  Shown within Central Dublin | |
| Geographic coordinates | 53°20′07″N 6°16′32″W / 53.335322°N 6.275540°W |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | JFOC Architects |
| Style | Victorian and Mughal |
| Funded by | Bari family |
| Date established | 1992 |
| Capacity | 700+ |
History
editThe building was originally a distribution centre for the International Clothing Holding’s retail operations, owned by the Bari family. It began to be used for Islamic prayer by Pakistani and Bosnian immigrants in 1992. In 2003 the company’s operations moved to Ballymount, leaving the building as a full-time mosque. At present, it is planned to remodel the building with Victorian and Mughal architecture, inspired by the George's Street Arcade and Iveagh Market.[5]
It derives its name from the street on which it lies, which takes its name from the tanning vats that once stood there.[6]
The mosque has a mostly Pakistani membership and services are held in Urdu, Arabic and English.[7]
Controversies
editIn 2010, a leaked American diplomat cable described Blackpitts as a "suspected gathering place for some radical elements within the Pakistani community."[8][9] Sheikh Ismail Kotwal, the imam, attracted controversy in 2010 after describing Osama bin Laden as a "a great leader" and "like prophet Mohammed"; he later partially retracted these statements.[10]
In 2021, over 140 people were observed at a religious gathering at the mosque, in defiance of COVID-19 pandemic public health measures that forbade religious gatherings, except for funerals, and limited them to 10 people.[11][12]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "On Clanbrassil Street, the Fast Is Broken". Dublin Inquirer. 21 June 2016.
- ^ "Dublin". islamicfoundation.ie.
- ^ Scharbrodt, Oliver (20 March 2015). Muslims in Ireland. Edinburgh University Press. ISBN 9781474403474 – via Google Books.
- ^ Nielsen, Jørgen Schøler; Akgönül, Samim; Alibašić, Ahmet; Maréchal, Brigitte; Moe, Christian (25 February 2009). Yearbook of Muslims in Europe. BRILL. ISBN 978-9004175051 – via Google Books.
- ^ "In Blackpitts, Designs for New Mosque Blend Dublin Victoriana and Mughal Architecture". Dublin Inquirer.
- ^ Green, Michael (4 December 2012). "10 Things You May Never Have Known About Dublin".
- ^ "Blackpitts Mosque - JFOC". JFOC Architects.
- ^ Fitzgerald, Mary. "Clonskeagh mosque rejects US claims". The Irish Times.
- ^ Reilly, Gavan (26 April 2011). "USA had concerns over Dublin-based Muslim think tank - WikiLeaks". TheJournal.ie.
- ^ "The Irish Muslims who mourn Bin Laden". independent. 7 May 2011.
- ^ "Gardai launch probe after more than 100 people gather at Dublin mosque". sundayworld. 27 August 2023.
- ^ Surve, Aakanksha (19 February 2021). "Video:Dublin mosque under investigation after over 150 people gather for prayers". DublinLive.