Mukhtarov Mosque, Sunni mosque in Vladikavkaz, Russia
The Mukhtarov Mosque is a brick building on the left bank of the Terek River, its facade laid in alternating bands of orange-pink and pale cream masonry. Two slender cylindrical minarets rise at the front corners, banded in the same colors and capped with small pale domes and thin finials. Between them, set back, a large ribbed turquoise dome carries a pointed finial; below it a tall pointed arch frames a window above the arched entrance.
Permission to build was granted in 1900, when the city allocated a plot on the left bank of the Terek. The Tatar community began fundraising, joined by Tatars from Penza and Kazan. Construction cost 80,000 rubles, over 50,000 of them given by Murtuza Mukhtarov, who commissioned Józef Plośko. The mosque opened on 14 October 1908.
The mosque serves as a gathering place for the Muslim community in North Ossetia, where residents come together for daily prayers and religious celebrations. It shapes the city's character as a visible expression of Islamic faith in the region.
Visitors should be aware that this is an active place of worship with specific conduct expectations, particularly in prayer areas where photography may be restricted. It is wise to check opening times beforehand and dress respectfully when entering the building.
In 1934, a cavalry regiment under Tatar command intervened to prevent local authorities from demolishing the structure during a period of religious suppression. This remarkable military action saved the mosque from destruction at a critical moment in its history.
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