Photo Gallery Germany's Biggest Mosque Opens
The Merkez mosque in the Dusiburg district of Marxloh, Germany's biggest mosque, was opened on Sunday in a ceremony attended by 5,000 people.
"Made in Marxloh": Young Turkish immigrants celebrated the opening of the mosque, which wasn't marred by the local protests that accompanied recent mosque projects in Berlin or cologne.
An imam speaking in the elaborately decorated mosque, which cost 7 million and took 3 1/2 years to build.
The mosque with its Ottoman design has a 23-meter high dome... ...
and a 34-meter minaret.
The interior is decorated with elaborate paintings, and a giant chandelier hangs down from the dome.
Muslims removing their shoes: the mosque can accommodate up to 1,200 worshippers.
The mosque ha a sumptuous interior and welcomes all comers.
The governor of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Jürgen Rüttgers, said: "We need more mosques in this country, not in the back yards, but visible and recognisable."
The opening of this mosque in eastern Berlin earlier this month was met by protests from the local community.
And in Cologne, the far-right movement "Pro Cologne" has waged a fierce campaign against plans to build a mosque there.
