The Reconquest of the Mosque of Cordoba - a part of Moroccan Cultural History

 Here is a well written piece on the mosque-cathedral of Cordoba and the tension around Muslims and Islamic history in Spain.  We generally put the opening paragraphs of an article below, but due to the sensitivities of the parent publication, you will have to follow the links for the article. Its well worth it.
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credit: Peter Millett

The Reconquista of the Mosque of Córdoba

By Eric Calderwood
April 10, 2015

Spain’s most famous mosque is at the center of a dispute between activists seeking to preserve its Muslim heritage, and the Catholic Church, which has claimed it as its own. The result could determine the future of Islam in Europe.

FULL ARTICLE

King Muhammad VI Inaugurates Photo Exhibit in Casablanca on Moroccan Mosques

Here is an article from the Maghreb Arab Presse about a new photo exhibit by AbdelAdim Peter Sanders on Moroccan Mosques that has just recently gone up in Casablanca.
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HM the King inaugurates in Casablanca photograph exhibition of 'Moroccan mosques throughout history'
Casablanca - HM King Mohammed VI, Commander of the Faithful, inaugurated, on Friday, a photograph exhibition organized in Casablanca's multimedia library, under the theme "Moroccan Mosques throughout history."

- The exhibition brings together 70 unpublished photographs of the artist Abdeladim Peter Sanders depicting various facets of the mosques' architectural heritage.

Initiated by the Endowments and Islamic Affairs Ministry, this exhibition, with a strong artistic and civilizational dimension, brings together 70 unpublished photographs featuring the British artist Abdeladim Peter Sanders' work, which depicts the various facets of the Moroccan mosques' unique architectural heritage.

This exhibition will enable the public discover the remarkable richness of the mosques’ artistic architecture and the special place that Moroccans give to these monuments throughout history.

This exhibition gives an overview of the civilizational, aesthetic and artistic aspects of these religious buildings, dating from the Idrisids dynasty to the Alaouite dynasty, a fact which has endowed Morocco with a large number of religious monuments, notably the Hassan II Mosque.

The photograph exhibition on the Moroccan mosques is one of the leading cultural and artistic activities organized in Casablanca’s multimedia library, which was inaugurated last April by HM the King, Commander of the Faithful.

As an area for exchange and debate, the multimedia library aims to contribute to promoting cultural activities in Casablanca and enhancing the city’s intellectual influence.

On this occasion, the Minister of Endowments and Islamic Affairs Ahmed Toufiq presented to HM the King a book published by his Department under the title "Moroccan mosques throughout history." Similarly, the visual artist Abdellah Hariri presented to the Sovereign one of his works.

Last modification 10/22/2010 03:22 PM.
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Morocco to Close 1,250 Mosques for Repairs

Here is an article from the BBC about the Moroccan government's announcement that it is closing 1,250 mosques for repairs after the deadly collapse of the mosque in Meknes earlier in the year. Interesting timing for this news, just as we start of the month of Ramadan.
Awashirokom Mabrooka! Ramadan Mubarak ! A Blessed Ramadan to all!
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Morocco to close 1,250 'unsafe' mosques


Morocco's government says it will close 1,256 mosques deemed unsafe to avoid a repeat of the collapse of a minaret in February that killed 41 people.

The ministry of religious affairs said more than 500 mosques would be completely demolished and rebuilt.

The ministry said makeshift rooms and tents would be provided for prayers.

King Mohammed ordered all the country's mosques to be examined after the centuries-old minaret of a mosque in Meknes fell over during Friday prayers.

The accident prompted widespread public criticism of the authorities over the apparent lack of maintenance of religious sites.

The religious affairs ministry said that after inspecting 19,205 of the country's nearly 48,000 mosques, it had been decided to completely close 6.5% and partially close 416, or 2.2%.

It said $325m had been set aside for the improvement works, including the demolition and rebuilding of 513 mosques.

The mosque in Meknes, whose historic city is on Unesco's World Heritage list, is among those being rebuilt.

Mosque Minaret Collapses in Meknes, Many Die

Here is an article from Reuters the minaret collapse at a Meknes mosque yesterday in Morocco.
The BBC did a photo essay on the relief attempts/reaction that can be seen here.

(( We are from God and unto Him we return ))
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Moroccan mosque minaret collapses, kills 38
RABAT
Fri Feb 19, 2010 6:31pm EST


RABAT (Reuters) - A four centuries-old mosque minaret collapsed in Morocco Friday, killing at least 38 people and injuring more than 70 worshippers, hospital officials and witnesses said.



"The number of dead reached at least 38. I have this death toll from rescuers and doctors and officials at the hospital," parliamentarian Abdallah Bouanou, who is also a doctor, told Reuters from the scene.

"I counted myself 13 dead. Their corpses were pulled out of the rubble by rescuers," he added.

Local civil defense commander Alaoui Ismaili said the rescue operation was slow because of the narrow streets in the old city medina district where the collapsed mosque minaret is located.

"We are using only manpower, not equipment as we cannot bring heavy equipment through these streets," he said.

"We are moving with great cautiousness also because the walls of houses and shops adjacent to the mosque are fragile especially after the heavy rains of the past days," said Ismaili.

The state news agency MAP, citing an official provisional toll, said 36 were killed and 71 more injured in the incident.

"About 300 worshippers gathered inside the mosque for the Friday afternoon mass prayers. When the imam (preacher) was about to start his sermon, the minaret went down," Khaled Rahmouni, whose home is near the mosque, told Reuters by telephone.

The Lalla Khenata mosque minaret collapsed in the old Bab el Bardiyine neighborhood of Meknes, which is about 140 km (80 miles) southwest of Rabat.

Neglected old buildings in the old quarters of Morocco's cities collapse fairly often, but the fall of a minaret is rare.

(Reporting by Lamine Ghanmi; Editing by Jon Hemming)