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Muslim leaders say the new mosque was largely funded by a Pakistani businessman in neighbouring Honduras. (WT Journal photo) |
CAIRO – The building of a mosque in Managua, the capital city of the Central American country of Nicaragua, is stirring furor over claims of being funded by the Iranians.
"Did Iran put up the money? That's the question everyone asks," Ismat Khatib, treasurer of the Nicaraguan Islamic Cultural Association, told the Wall Street Journal on Tuesday, November 10.
Claims have been circulating that the Iranian government has funded the building of the mosque in the capital city of Managua.
Khatib said Iran has not paid a penny to build the gold-domed mosque, which was opened last September.
He noted that Iran only pledged to donate a large, special rug for the mosque's prayer room -- and has not even sent it.
"This is the real version," insisted Khatib, a native Nicaraguan lawyer and businessman.
"You can end the mystery with this."
Nicaragua is home to a tiny Muslim minority of 1,500, mostly Sunnis who came from the Palestinian territories and Libya or are natural-born citizens.
The Islamic Cultural in Managua serves as the primary worship place for Muslims in the capital, with approximately 320 men attending on a regular basis.
Personal Funding
Muslim leaders say the mosque construction, which cost $600,000, was largely funded by a Pakistani-born businessman in neighbouring Honduras.
"He paid around $350,000," said Fahmi M. Hassan, president of the Islamic Cultural Association.
"The rest was paid by the [Muslim] community in Nicaragua."
Yusuf Amdani, the Pakistani businessman, confirmed funding the mosque construction.
"There’s no mystery about the mosque."
Amdani said his company, which also financed the only mosque in Honduras, agreed to pay for the Managua mosque.
Nicaraguan Muslims, especially of Palestinian origin, have established a number of businesses in the Central American country, especially in the fabric trade.
But because their numbers are few, Islam remains foreign to most Nicaraguans, who are largely Catholics or evangelicals.
Many Nicaraguans refer to all Muslims or Middle Easterners as Turks, and seem to know next to nothing about their religious beliefs.
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