Barcelona Plans Huge Mosque in Former Plaza De Toros
It would also be the third largest in the world, after those in the Muslim holy cities of Mecca and Medina.
The Emir of Qatar has shown interest in purchasing the former 'Plaza de Toros'. According to sources quoted by the media, the Balaña family, which owns the bull-ring, is in talks for its sale to Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad, who is willing to invest 2.2 billion euros to convert it into an immense place of worship, with room for 40,000 people and a 300-meter-high minaret.
The talks, not yet confirmed by the Catalan family - which also owns several cinemas and theaters - are held by Barcelona's Muslim community to be a 'done deal', noting that authorization from the town council was still needed.
Currently one of the most famous 'Plazas de Toros' in Spain, alongside Madrid's Las Ventas and Sevlle's Maestranza, the under the plan the Monumental would be converted into a huge mosque funded by Qatar.
Sources say that the pointman of the talks is Mowafach Kanfach, founder of Barcelona's Casa del Libro Arabe and from Catalonia's Islamic Federation. Kanfach has told the media that Barcelona has a dire need for a place of worship for the city's steadily growing Muslim Community.
In addition to a prayer room that could accommodate 40,000 people, the project calls for a research center on the history of Al Andalus (Muslim-ruled Spain), a Quranic school for 300 students, a conference hall and an art and history museum, as well as shops and restaurants.
The fact that Qatar Airways is the current official sponsor of the Barcelona football team is likely to be a point in its favor. Nevertheless, the future of the former bull-ring as a place of prayer has been cast doubt on by Barcelona mayor Xavier Trias, who said that he had found out about it from the media.
''This is the first time we hear of it,'' the EFE news agency quoted the mayor as saying in recent days. Trias said that Qatar's monetary offer was ''surprising'' but that it might be refused by Barcelona residents. While saying that it would be ''logical'' to have a mosque in the city, he did not comment on the possible transformation of the historical bull-ring. If he could choose, he said, ''I would like for the Monumental to become a large children's museum''.
Barcelona has considered transforming the bull-ring into a mosque in the past. In early 2000, the mayor at the time - Joan Clos - weighed a similar idea, but the project was called off after the city failed to come to an agreement with Saudi financiers.
Source: ANSAmed
