MIX BLOGS: mosques

Images from Cappadocia, Pamukkale, Egirdir and Istanbul

The images below will open in a new window. Once loaded, simply right click (or option click in Mac) on the image and choose to 'Set as wallpaper/background' or nearest equivalent phrase (they change it every darn browser version!)

Polish Muslims might soon have their own mosque in Warsaw. Tomasz Miśkiewicz, a Mufti points out that Islam is the only great religion whose believers do not have a decent place of worship in the Polish capital. It all started with an announcement made on the Gazeta.pl forum: “The Polish Islamic Council announced that all construction permits necessary for building a mosque have been obtained. The minarets will be 25 metres tall and there will be an 102dB amplifier for the muezzin. The sponsor of this initiative is the same Islamic sheik who paid for the famous operation to separate the Polish Siamese sisters. Consequently, if somebody opposes the construction of this monumental temple, they will also be opposing this benefactor,” according to Uzman, a forum contributor.
A fierce discussion followed. “This is not part of European culture,” writes Ania. A different opinion was presented by Ritzy who claimed that if there was a large number of Muslims in Warsaw then they should have their own place of worship. According to Miśkiewicz there are about 7,000 Muslims in Warsaw and the surrounding suburbs but there are not enough mosques. The one on Wiertnicza Street is bursting at the seams therefore a new mosque is to be built in the Ochota district of the capital, near the Skra stadium. There will be a cultural centre inside the mosque supporting dialogue between various religions. Currently, there are only three mosques in Poland.
Gazeta Wyborcza

Dagens Nyheter, the Stockholm daily newspaper, writes that Polish astronomer Aleksander Wolszczan is one of the chief candidates to win this year’s Nobel Prize in Physics. The Polish scientist might be awarded the prize for discovering the first planetary system outside the Solar System. The Nobel Prize Award Ceremony takes place on Tuesday. Apart from Wolszczan, the Committee nominated other candidates who also made important discoveries. However, according to Dagens Nyheter it is Professor Wolszczan who is most likely to be awarded the highest prize in Physics. Wolszczan’s main competitor is Vera Rubin, an American astronomer who discovered invisible dark matter in the universe.
Dziennik

Yesterday in Kalisz supporters of controversial cleric Father Rydzyk prayed for the success of drilling in search of geothermal water. Many of them donated money for the cause. Father Rydzyk prayed to St. Joseph for his intercession. During Mass Bishop Edward Frankowski reminded everyone that the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management terminated its agreement with Rydzyk’s Lux Veritatis Foundation and withdrew the funds needed to continue drilling. “This was aimed against Poland and the Polish nation. The government which is obliged to serve the country does not acknowledge its energy needs and is, therefore, doing harm to its citizens”.
The Bishop emphasised his support for Father Rydzyk’s cause which, in his opinion, will open avenues of development and create new places of employment. “This water will allow us to become independent of foreign suppliers and will certainly strengthen our development. Father Rydzyk deserves the highest of decorations for his work,” he added. The geothermal project conducted by the Lux Veritatis Foundation was to be started thanks to the financial support of PLN 27 million from the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management. However, in May the Fund severed the agreement claiming that there were many problems with the project. The drilling will end in March 2009. Father Rydzyk informed the worshippers in Kalisz that on Thursday the drills reached a depth of 1,630 metres.