Türkmenbaşy Ruhy Mosque

Türkmenbaşy Ruhy Mosque (Türkmenbaşy Ruhy Metjidi), or Gypjak Mosque, is a mosque in Gypjak, Turkmenistan and the resting place for Saparmurat Niyazov, the leader of Turkmenistan from 1985 to 2006. The mosque is located about 7 km west of the capital, Ashgabat, on the M37 highway.

Overview


The mosque, constructed by the French company Bouygues, was built in the home town of President Saparmurat Niyazov. It opened on 22 October 2004, and was built by Nyýazow with a mausoleum in preparation for his death. Nyýazow died two years later, and was buried in the mausoleum on 24 December 2006.

The mosque has been at the center of controversy as scriptures from both the Quran and the Ruhnama (The Book of the Soul), Nyýazow's 'pseudo-spiritual guide to life' are built into the walls. It has outraged many Muslims that the Ruhnama is placed as the Koran's equal. Indeed, despite its capacity to accommodate 10,000 congregants, the mosque is often empty as the Ruhnama inscriptions are considered blasphemous by devout mosquegoers.