Al Dissi Mosque

31°46′25″N 35°13′50″E / 31.77361°N 35.23056°E / 31.77361; 35.23056ArchitectureStylemosque

The Al Dissi mosque or the Al Disi mosque (Arabic: مسجد الديسي) is a Medieval mosque located within the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem, on the edge between the Armenian Quarter and the Jewish Quarter.^[1]

In 2018 the King of Morocco, Mohammed VI, funded the renovation of the mosque; Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth states that the local Jewish community and the Waqf "came to an agreement" that there would be no muezzin calling from the minaret.^[2] Sheikh Mazen Ahram, a Jerusalem Imam, says that the mosque's muezzin loudspeakers were confiscated by Israeli authorities in 1993, who subsequently prevented any announcements from the minaret.^[1] He also says that the land in front of the mosque, owned by the Islamic Waqf, was confiscated by Israel and converted into a car park,^[1] and that due to its location near the Jewish Quarter, users of the mosque have faced racist insults and harassment.^[1]

History

The mosque dates back to the Ayyubid era of Al-Mu'azzam Isa, and was later restored in the Mamluk era.^[1] In 1487 it was endowed by Al-Kameli ibn Abu-Sharif,^[3] and mention the mosque as "Masjid al-Omar".^[4] It was subsequently named the Al Dissi Mosque after a member of the Jerusalemite Al Dissi family.^[3]

1967-76 demolition works carried out by the “Jewish Quarter Development Company” adjacent to the site damaged the structure of the mosque; it was subsequently renovated by the Islamic Waqf.^[3]

Description

The mosque has a minaret that is about 15 meters high, and has an area of 60 square meters.^[4] The mosque prayer area is situated along a small corridor behind the low steel gate in the main entrance.^[3]

References