Aitona, in Lleida, has a new mosque on Avinguda 27 de Gener, opposite the schools, after the local Muslim community opened the building with neighbours of different faiths attending the ceremony.
Zakarias Gzhili, a member of the Aitona Islamic community, thanked those present for sharing the moment and for the collaboration of people in the town, both Muslim and non-Muslim.
The new prayer space can hold 200 people inside and another 100 in the courtyard. It replaces a smaller mosque that had become too small for its users. The building includes Mudéjar-style tile decoration, similar to other local Muslim temples, including the mosque in Seròs. For more on local coverage, see our news tag.
Mudéjar art comes from the Arabic word muyyadan, meaning one who was allowed to stay. It developed after the Middle Ages and combines Arabic styles with Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance elements, often using geometric figures. The style was common in Baix Segre and Baix Cinca, where many towns have Arab origins and where the presence of Moriscos was higher than Christians until their expulsion in 1610.
Aitona’s mayor, Rosa Pujol, said the town has grown thanks to people who have come from many places, and that this diversity is part of daily life and one of its strengths. She said the new mosque symbolises the rootedness of a community that is part of Aitona, works in its fields, runs businesses and contributes to the town’s well-being.
Idrissi Bouazza, a Sunni Muslim community member, said the construction work was done voluntarily by community members on weekends, using purchased materials. The mosque now has a women’s area, and the community does not plan to install a minaret yet because of the cost and the practical difficulties involved. Completing the columns, the imam’s wall and the façade are the next priorities. The Aitona Islamic community is one of 43 Islamic communities registered in Lleida by the Ministry of Justice, and it plans to hire an imam next month.
