Building Name: | Abdellah Ben Salem Mosque مسجد عبدالله بن سلام |
Location: | Blvd. Maata Mohamed El Habib, Oran, Algeria |
Map Type: | Algeria |
Map Relief: | 1 |
Coordinates: | 35.7°N -0.6503°W |
Religious Affiliation: | Islam (previously Judaism) |
Consecration Year: | 1918 (as a synagogue) 1975 (as a mosque) |
Year Completed: | 1880 |
Architecture Type: | mosque |
Architecture Style: | Moorish |
Specifications: | no |
The Abdellah Ben Salem Mosque (Arabic: مسجد عبد الله بن سلام) is a mosque in Oran, Algeria. Formerly the Great Synagogue of Oran (French: Grande synagogue d'Oran), it was the largest synagogue in Africa.[1] Also known as Temple Israélite, it was located on Boulevard Joffre, currently Boulevard Maata Mohamed El Habib.
Its construction began in 1879 at the initiative of Simon Kanoui, and took 38 years to complete.[2] Once Algeria gained its independence in 1962, almost all Algerian Jews, who were considered French citizens since the Crémieux Decree of 1870, were expelled to France alongside the Pied-Noir settlers. In 1975, the synagogue was converted into a mosque and named after Abdullah ibn Salam, a seventh-century Jew from Medina and companion of Muhammad who converted to Islam.
Its style shows Neo-Mudéjar and Moorish Revival influences.