Aghdam Juma Mosque

The restoration of the Aghdam Juma mosque has been started by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation. An agreement was signed with the Austrian Brugger & KO Restauratoren GmbH company to implement the project.

The Aghdam Juma mosque was built in 1868-1870 by architect Karbalayi Safikhan Garabaghi. This mosque is the only building in the city that has been less damaged by Armenians during the occupation of Aghdam.

On February 13, 2022 President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva viewed the progress of restoration work carried out by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation at the Aghdam Juma mosque. Sabig Abdullayev, the Coordinator of projects of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation in the liberated territories informed the President and the First Lady of the work done. It was reported that the coating and cement joints will be completely removed at the first stage. The work will be done by hand to prevent damage to the historic bricks and prevent the composite from falling off the walls. At the second stage of the restoration process, the facades will be cleaned of biogenic formations, damaged or broken bricks will be restored, and the stonework will be re-marked with lime mortar.

Two minarets of the mosque, built of burnt bricks, can be climbed by a spiral staircase. At the first stage, broken joints, tile edges, and paint coating will be removed, at the second stage, the appearance of biogenic growths on the brickwork of the minarets will be prevented, and at the third stage, the brick edges will be restored. Further, using mineral paints, the paint coating and inscriptions will be restored in accordance with historical features.

As can be seen from historical footage, the mosque originally had a wooden roof, brick domes were protected from air and wind under the roof. At the initial stage, the entire roof landscape will be freed from the last biogenic growths, broken masonry joints and gypsum coatings above the vaults will be removed.

During conservation, weakened or unstable masonry and vaulted structures will be renewed.

In the first stage, all plaster covering, except for the brick base, will be removed from the prayer hall, and it will be prepared for the next stage of work. A new, three-layer lime-based plaster system will be applied in all rooms, the last layer will be covered with mineral paint, matching the color (white color) of the original version.

The altar of the mosque is currently in disrepair. Accordingly, during the restoration of the mosque, measures will be taken to desalinate the earth at a height of about 2 meters.

Restoration works will be carried out with the preservation of the historical appearance of the mosque.