The Only Unreconstructed Mosque in Banja Luka to be renovated soon?

The official ceremony of laying the foundation stone for the reconstruction of Arnaudija mosque, the only unreconstructed mosque in Banja Luka, will take place on the 22^nd of April.

Director of the Waqf Direction of Islamic Community (IZ) in BiH Senaid Zajimovic and Director of the General Directorate of Waqf of the Republic of Turkey Adnan Ertem signed a protocol on the implementation of the project of the reconstruction of Arnaudija mosque in Banja Luka on the 11^th of October 2016 in Ankara.

The Waqf Direction of Islamic Community in BiH through its partner, the General Directorate of Waqf of the Republic of Turkey, provided the necessary funds for financing the reconstruction of Arnaudija mosque, the only unrenovated and unreconstructed mosque in Banja Luka. With the reconstruction of the Islamic community will complete the process of reconstruction and rebuilding of the war destroyed mosques in Banja Luka.

About the reconstruction of Arnaudija mosque, which was destroyed on the 7^th of May 1993, was also discussed at the recent meeting of director of the Waqf Direction Senaid Zajimovic with Mufti of Banja Luka Osman Kozlic. They also discussed preparations for the 7^th manifestation “Days of Waqf in BiH” which this year, besides Sarajevo, will be held in Banja Luka, Bosanska Gradiska, Jajce, Kiseljak, and Buzim, in the period from the 21^st to 29^th of April. This year’s manifestation will include cultural, educational and religious facilities, round table and discussions on the topic of waqf, book promotions, presentations, projects, the exhibition of waqf, the grand opening of waqf objects in Bosanska Gradiska, Buzim and Kiseljak, and setting of the foundation stone for the reconstruction of Arnaudija mosque in Banja Luka.

Defterdarija or Arnaudija mosque is one of 15 mosques that were destroyed in Banja Luka during the war. One of the signatories of Ferhad Pasha’s waqf agreement, finance minister of the Bosnia Eyalet – Hasan Efendi built this beautiful mosque known as Arnaudija or Defterdardija in 1595, and it was located in Donji Seher in Banja Luka, close to the Ferhadija mosque. It was included on the World Heritage List of UNESCO.

(Source: faktor.ba)