Destroyed by the Serbs during the 1992-1995 war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the historic Sinan Bey Mosque was restored to its original state as a result of reconstruction work carried out by the General Directorate of Foundations. The mosque is planned to be opened for worship on July 12.
The mosque, which was built in 1570 in the city of Cajnice by Sinan Bey, the son-in-law of Ottoman Grand Vizier Sokollu Mehmed Pasha, and destroyed as a result of a Serbian attack in 1992, was taken into the reconstruction process with a groundbreaking ceremony by the General Directorate of Foundations in 2016. The reconstruction works, which were also supported by the Islamic Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina, were completed.
The graves of Sinan Bey and his wife Şemse Kadun, located next to the mosque, were also renovated and the landscaping was carried out in accordance with the original.
Thank God
Gorazde Mufti Remzi Pitic stated that preparations for the mosque to be opened for worship have been completed and that the mosque will be opened with Friday prayers and that they thank God for this. Pitic also stated that this is the third time in the last 10 years that a mosque will be opened for worship in the Gorazde region and that he thinks this will provide new momentum for the region.
“We hope that with the reopening of the mosque, Cajnice will gain a new spirit and Bosnians will visit it more often. We also believe that the mosque will contribute to social life with the events to be held here,” Pitic said.
An Unforgettable Feeling
Hadis Kustura, who was a muezzin at the age of 10 before the mosque was demolished, said that the reopening of the mosque was exciting. Kustura said he entered the mosque, performed the prayer of gratitude and had fond memories of his childhood inside.
Kustura thanked everyone who contributed to the reconstruction of the mosque and said, “When you enter Cajnice now, you feel like you have stepped into an old Bosnian Muslim neighborhood. We are happy that the mosque has been reopened for worship.”
Considered one of the most architecturally beautiful mosques in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the reopening of the Sinan Bey Mosque will mark an important milestone for the region, with many visitors expected from within and outside the country.
