An article from *La Voix du Nord* by Pierre-Laurent Flamen.
The Franco-Turkish association of the North has just completed the construction of its new mosque in Roubaix. This religious building is one of the largest in France for the Muslim community. And it is truly magnificent.
To anchor it within the local landscape, these two worlds—faith and culture—are connected by a transparent, open space. Like the Essonnes river that defines a region, this central space’s total transparency symbolizes the purity of water—an essential element of the Islamic faith, where purification with water is fundamental.
The safety commission visited the site this Friday at noon. A few small final details remain, but the essential is in place: the Eyüp Sultan Mosque in Roubaix will be able to welcome its first worshippers just in time for the start of Ramadan.
As workers finish laying a lapis-lazuli-colored carpet on parts of the floor, the leaders of the Franco-Turkish association are beaming with pride. Sehri Atalay, a member of the association, appears particularly moved: “My father arrived in the North in 1973 to work in construction. He helped build the cardiac hospital and the Channel Tunnel. In the beginning, they prayed in a house. And now, we have this. It’s magnificent for us and for our children.”
The mosque’s immense dome and its equally impressive chandelier:
This mosque, located on rue du Caire in Roubaix, has been a long-term project: https://www.lavoixdunord.fr/1071497/article/2021-09-18/roubaix-la-mosquee-franco-turque-espere-ouvrir-en-septembre-2022
Ibrahim Alci, president of the Franco-Turkish association of the North, explains: “We’ve been working on this for ten years. We first discussed it in 2014, and now we’re finally finishing. I want to make it clear: no country helped us. The mosque was 100% funded by the faithful.” https://www.lavoixdunord.fr/646344/article/2019-10-03/roubaix-l-ambassadeurde-turquie-visite-la-mosquee-eyup-sultan
Cost of this architectural gem? Eight million euros. A price that seems (relatively) low considering the *Thousand and One Nights*-style palace that was built. With a smile, Sehri Atalay adds: “Most of us work in construction.” Meaning: countless volunteer workers contributed their time and skills.
Ostrich eggs
The result of all these efforts is stunning. A 15-meter-high dome, entirely hand-painted, towers over worshippers. The lower part of the dome is adorned with Quranic verses. Hanging from the center is a four-tier chandelier bearing the “99 names of God” on its sides. The chandelier weighs 300 kilos and is supported by three anchoring points.
Ostrich eggs are said to keep spiders away: (photo Pascal Bonnière)
A charming detail: ostrich eggs are embedded in the chandelier. “They are present in every mosque in Turkey; they prevent cobwebs.”
The tulips come from Turkey. Back to the dome: 24 windows are etched with laser-engraved tulip motifs. Why tulips? “Because they come from Turkey. We were the ones who gave them to the Netherlands.” The prayer hall is on the upper floor for women, and on the ground floor for men.
In the basement, there are two rooms for ablutions (ritual washing required before prayer) and a parking area for the elderly and/or people with reduced mobility. Oussama Bezzazi, the architect and designer of the project, is still in awe: “It brought me to tears. I’ve designed other mosques, like the one in Villeneuve-d’Ascq. But this one is the most beautiful.”
