First Mosque Construction in Thuringia to be Inaugurated - Erfurt's First Ornamental Minaret Mosque Opens Amid Protests and Hope
Thuringia’s first newly built mosque with an ornamental minaret is set to open on February 14. The Mahmud Mosque in Erfurt marks a milestone for the local Ahmadiyya Muslim community, which has waited years for its own place of worship. However, the project has also faced strong opposition and protests during construction. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Erfurt was established in September 1990. With around 100 members in Thuringia, the group has long sought a dedicated mosque. Construction finally began in 2018 but encountered delays, partly due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Opposition to the mosque surfaced during its construction. Protesters erected large wooden crosses near the site and placed pig carcasses on stakes, acts intended to provoke. Despite these challenges, the community persisted with the project. The formal opening ceremony on February 14 will be invitation-only. The following day, the mosque will welcome the public for an 'Open Mosque Day'. Nationwide, the Ahmadiyya community includes over 50,000 members across 250 congregations in Germany. Founded in India in 1889, the movement emphasises peaceful co-existence and interfaith dialogue.
The Mahmud Mosque will serve as a central place of worship for Erfurt’s Ahmadiyya community. Its completion follows years of planning, construction delays, and public resistance. Once open, it will also function as a space for broader community engagement and education.
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