The newly-built Islamic centre in the biggest Croatian seaport of Rijeka will be officially inaugurated on Saturday, 4 May, the local imam Hajrudin Mujkanovic said at a news conference in Rijeka on Monday.
The dignitary said the centre would cater for some 10,000 Muslim believers in the Rijeka area.
The building of this 5,300-square-metre complex started in March 2010 and its minaret is 23 metres high.
The entire investment was estimated at HRK 76 million, and the investor was the local Islamic community that also managed to collect many donations for this purpose.
The largest donation was provided by Qatari Emir Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani.
The late Dusan Dzamonja, a Croatian sculptor, authored the architectural design of the centre, and the project was conducted by architects Darko Vlahovic and Branko Vucinovic.
Rijeka Mayor Vojko Obersnel said that the opening of the mosque would be a significant event not only for Rijeka but also for the entire Croatia.
Some 20,000 people are expected at the opening ceremony, and it was said that Croatia's President Ivo Josipovic and Sabor Speaker Josip Leko would be also in attendance.
