A new mosque was built in the town of Izobilnoe (historical name Qorbek, Alushta district) at the very same place where the old mosque was situated before the 1944 deportation. Famous Crimean Tatar businessman living in Turkey, a grandson of this mosque’s former Imam Mr. Davlet-hajji Islam, donated the whole sum.
Mr Refat Chubarov (Head of the Crimean Tatar Mejlis) and his deputies, members of Mejlis, RAMC officials, representatives from different social organisations were present at the opening ceremony along with people from Qorbek and Alushta. Alushta Mayor Mr.Stanislav Kolot, his deputy, and the acting head of Qorbek Town Council also arrived.
After the declamations, Mufti of Religious Administration of Muslims of Crimea Mr. Emirali-hajji Ablaev, Head of Crimean Tatar Mejlis Mr. Refat Chubarov and Alushta Mayor Mr.Stanislav Kolot cut the ribbon and let the local Muslims in for performing the traditional Friday prayer.
Historical note
Imam Davlet-hajji Islam, whose descendant restored the Mosque at present, served at Qorbek Mosque up to 1933. When the repressions started, the Imam left for Turkey, and his descendants still live there. It’s known that Davlet-hajji asked to rebuild the mosque in his native village before he died, and his grandson did just that.
The building started in 2013. Local people pooled some money to buy the land, and Turkish businessman payed for the building. The construction works were held at the very same place where the old mosque was situated.
It bears reminding that people of Devlet kindred live all over Crimea now. One of them,Mr.Mustafa Devlet, lives in Qorbek since 1991. “Thank God we managed to rebuild the mosque after almost ¼ century of returning to the native village. Our relative, descendant of Davlet-hajji Islam, helped us restore it.”
The two-storeyed building has a capacity of 500 parishioners. It also accommodated a medrese (capacity of 15 pupils) with classes, canteens and other rooms.
A joint dua and Juma prayer followed the opening ceremony. All the guests were invited to join the festive banquet after the prayer.
1700 mosques were functioning in Crimea at the time of 1944 deportation; about 350 mosques and prayer rooms are functioning on the peninsula at present.
