Cuba has finally got the first mosque, thanks to Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabian government has decided to finance the construction of the first mosque to serve Muslims in Cuba.
In an interview broadcast by Saudi state TV Vladimir Gonzalez said, “Because of this donation from the Saudi side, today we can say that we’re building in Havana the first mosque in our country.”
“We have a small Muslim community in our country; they are very organized. I’m honored to facilitate their life as Muslim people in Cuba,” he added.
King Salman Mosque will be located in a privileged location in Havana. The mosque will be built on an area of land estimated at 4,312 square meters. Its design has taken into account the Islamic urban style and the urban identity of the Two Holy Mosques.
It will allow the city’s residents and visitors to benefit from its external facilities, which will include— a banquet hall, restaurants, a public library, restrooms for the public and the mosque-goers, green spaces, and relaxation areas covered with umbrellas equipped with hydraulic mechanisms that help protect against rain and sunlight.
Around 1000 Muslims live in Cuba, according to an estimate by the Islamic Organization of Latin America.
Until now, Cuba’s Muslim community has been praying either at home or in makeshift prayer spaces. Friday prayers are currently held at the Casa de los Arabes (Arab House), which mainly serves Muslim diplomats and tourists.
