Before its barbaric destruction in only one day in 1992, the Emperor’s Mosque (Careva mosque), which was built by Sultan Bayezid II, stood here for five centuries, as announced at the opening ceremony of the Emperor’s Mosque in Foca.
The opening ceremony was attended by a large number of believers and officials.
Located on a hill above Foca, Emperor’s Mosque was beautifying the city for years. This mosque, like many other mosques in the city, was set on fire in 1992 and destroyed to the ground. The Emperor’s Mosque in Foca is among thirty imperial mosques in BiH.
The president of Civil Committee Sulejmen Pilav stated that “the truth is that Emperor’s Mosque which was built by Sultan Bayezid II stood here for five centuries before its barbaric destruction in one day in 1992”.
“It is here for people to pray to God, to teach generations about universal principles of Islam and fundamental moral postulates… All good people and the majority of citizens of this city are sharing the joy of today’s ceremony. However, there is also a shadow of sadness because of all of our people who were killed and didn’t survive to see reconstructed and beautiful Emperor’s Mosque,” explained Pilav.
He recalled that the start of reconstruction of the mosque was not easy or simple at all since the Serbian Orthodox Church tried to prevent its reconstruction. Serbian Orthodox Church argued that there was once the church at the place of the Emperor’s Mosque and demanded the mosque to be relocated to another location.
However, after archaeologists of the Institute for Protection of Cultural, Historical and Natural Heritage of the RS finished with excavations at this site, the construction of the Emperor’s Mosque was continued, because they have not found any relevant evidence on the alleged existence of the church.
“On the reconstruction of the Emperor’s Mosque worked a significant number of workers of other nationalities, and the local population was preparing coffee and juices on almost daily basis for all engaged workers,” said Pilav.
According to him, every stone and every beam were installed in the Emperor’s Mosque with the aim of serving the people.
(Source: N1)
