AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): Fatih Mosque in Amsterdam, affiliated with the Turkish Diyanet Foundation, welcomed over 2,000 non-Muslim visitors during the annual "Museum Night" event.
The event began with the call to prayer broadcast over loudspeakers, followed by Quran readings and hymns by religious officials. Guests received information about Islam, the mosque, and Islamic arts.
Imam Ismail Mercimek provided basic information about Islam to the visitors. He told Anadolu Agency, "Through Museum Night, many non-Muslims in the Netherlands are getting acquainted with the mosque. They are coming for the first time, seeing what happens in the mosque, observing the night prayer and hearing the calls to prayer, hymns, and Quran recitations. The best part is that they can ask questions directly to our imams and receive immediate answers."
Fikret Önder, President of the Fatih Mosque Association, noted that this was the eighth time they organized the event. He highlighted that many Dutch visitors' prejudices against Islam and Muslims were being broken.
Önder emphasized that over 2,000 visitors attended this year, particularly educated young people from a certain cultural level in the Netherlands, who came to learn about Islam from Dutch-speaking imams who graduated from international theology programs.
During the event, traditional Islamic and Turkish arts were introduced to the mostly Dutch guests. Visitors showed great interest in booths showcasing tile, marbling, calligraphy, and filigree arts, and participated in workshops to practice these arts. The mosque also offered flavors from Turkish cuisine.
Gioia Eijook, a 31-year-old Dutch visitor, shared that it was her first time at Fatih Mosque and that she made ceramics during the event. "Even though I pass by here every day, I didn’t know how beautiful and large the inside of the mosque is. It was wonderful and impressive to see the mosque and learn about Islam," she said.
Another Dutch visitor, Julia van Adrichem, expressed that visiting the mosque felt very good and that the atmosphere was delightful. "Being here is very calming, and the environment is friendly," she stated. Van Adrichem described the people at the mosque as very hospitable and cheerful, adding that she would like to visit Fatih Mosque again.
The building housing Fatih Mosque was originally a church built in 1920, which was closed due to a lack of congregation. In 1971, it was transferred by the Church Society to a businessperson.
The building was used for various purposes, including a carpet warehouse and a musical instrument shop, before being purchased by Turkish workers in Amsterdam in 1980 to meet their need for a place of worship. It was affiliated with the Turkish Diyanet Foundation in 1986 and continues to serve as the Fatih Mosque.
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