Historic Juma Mosque in Aghdam reopened for worship after Armenian occupation
The historic Juma Mosque of Aghdam in Karabakh, which suffered years of destruction during the Armenian occupation, has been restored and reopened for worship, marking the return of the adhan (call to prayer) to the city.
During the 44-day Patriotic War that liberated Aghdam, the mosque — a symbol of the city — was carefully reconstructed and renovated.
Destruction During Occupation
Built in 1868, the Juma Mosque had been actively used for worship until 1993. During the Armenian occupation, the mosque suffered extensive damage:
The interior was converted into a barn, housing cows and pigs.
Walls and structural elements were heavily damaged.
The mosque’s twin minarets were repurposed as watchtowers, while the sacred space itself was defiled for livestock.
According to İldar Kerimov, an Aghdam resident and mosque official,
“During the occupation, the enemy Armenians fed their animals — cows and pigs — inside the mosque. They turned it into a ruin. After the liberation, the Azerbaijani army helped restore it.”
Restoration and Reopening
Following the Victory in Karabakh, the Juma Mosque underwent complete restoration. Today, the call to prayer resonates once again, symbolizing both the revival of worship and the cultural restoration of Aghdam.
Despite widespread destruction across the city during the occupation, the double-minaret Juma Mosque was left standing, allowing it to be rebuilt and returned to its religious function.
