Blackpitts Mosque Explained

Blackpitts Mosque
Native Name:Mosc na gCuithí Dubha
Native Name Lang:ga
Map Type:Ireland Central Dublin
Religious Affiliation:Muslim
Sect:Sunni
Tradition:Deobandi
Festivals:-->
Country:Republic of Ireland
Organizational Status:-->
Functional Status:Active
Architect:JFOC Architects
Architecture Style:Victorian and Mughal
Funded By:Bari family
Established:1992
Date Destroyed:-->
Capacity:700+
Location:25–26 Blackpitts, Dublin
Elevation Ft:-->

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]

History

The 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

In 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

Notes and References

  1. Web site: On Clanbrassil Street, the Fast Is Broken. Dublin Inquirer. 21 June 2016 .
  2. Web site: Dublin. islamicfoundation.ie.
  3. Book: Scharbrodt, Oliver. Muslims in Ireland. March 20, 2015. Edinburgh University Press. 9781474403474. Google Books.
  4. Book: Yearbook of Muslims in Europe. Jørgen Schøler. Nielsen. Samim. Akgönül. Ahmet. Alibašić. Brigitte. Maréchal. Christian. Moe. February 25, 2009. BRILL. 978-9004175051. Google Books.
  5. Web site: In Blackpitts, Designs for New Mosque Blend Dublin Victoriana and Mughal Architecture. Dublin Inquirer.
  6. Web site: 10 Things You May Never Have Known About Dublin. Michael. Green. December 4, 2012.
  7. Web site: Blackpitts Mosque - JFOC. JFOC Architects.
  8. News: Clonskeagh mosque rejects US claims. Mary. Fitzgerald. The Irish Times.
  9. Web site: USA had concerns over Dublin-based Muslim think tank - WikiLeaks. Gavan. Reilly. TheJournal.ie. 26 April 2011 .
  10. Web site: The Irish Muslims who mourn Bin Laden. independent. 7 May 2011 .
  11. Web site: Gardai launch probe after more than 100 people gather at Dublin mosque. sundayworld. 27 August 2023 .
  12. Web site: Video:Dublin mosque under investigation after over 150 people gather for prayers. Aakanksha. Surve. February 19, 2021. DublinLive.