Turkey to restore Andalusian Muslim prayer room

ANKARA

Turkey will restore a masjid (prayer room for Muslims) in Andalusia, a region that was controlled by its Muslim rulers for a few centuries in the Iberia Peninsula in Spain's southern city of Cordoba, says the Turkish cooperation agency.

In a district of Cordoba dubbed as Mazquit, the masjid is located at the historical remains of Andalusian period of Cordoba and very close to Mosque of Cordoba, a well-known Islamic monument which was converted to a cathedrale. 

The masjid after restoration will be the only place open to worship for Muslims since Islamic community's appeals to grant access to pray in the mosque were refused so far.  

The Turkish Cooperation and Development Agency (TIKA) , a governmental institution aiming to support underdeveloped countries and revive Turkish culture in the world, signed a protocol with Islamica De Al Andulus Liga Morisca (IALM), an organization promoting and protecting Islamic culture.

The organization's regional officer, Abedul Bari Leon Diaz, thanked Turkey for the restoration plans at the masjid, which is expected to attract hundreds of tourists daily.

englishnews@aa.com.tr