A new mosque is set to be built in Dublin as the permission was granted by An Bord Pleanala. The mosque to be built in Liberties area has faced opposition from the locals but the project is likely to go forward as the planning commission was granted, reports Irish Mirror.
There were controversies after a large crowd gathered in Liberties area during level 5 lockdown for prayer where an old warehouse was operating as a mosque since 1992. Now the warehouse will be demolished and a new mosque is to be constructed.
20 apartments and other facilities will also be built along with the mosque on the ground floor, says the Irish Mirror report.
But the construction is being opposed by a number of residents and parties including the management of a nearby school. The permission to build mosque was lodged by Independent Clothing Holding, a fashion company run by the Bari family who come originally from Pakistan.
The large gathering of worshippers during level 5 lockdown in the rea had become controversial and far-right and anti-immigration groups had used the video of people leaving the mosque to campaign against them.
The opposing people argue that the residential units above a place of worship is unprecedented and also the height of the building is invasive to the nearby buildings. They also argue traffic congestion will make problems in the area in future.
Meanwhile the developers said that 90% of the worshippers are locals and they walk to the mosque usually. They also confirmed the apartments would be available to the general population and not restricted to Muslims.