The Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs of Iraqi Kurdistan Region says no country in the world had as many mosques as Kurdistan Region in terms of area.
Ministry spokesperson, Mariwan Naqshbandi, stated that 100 mosques were constructed throughout Kurdistan Region—and one church—in 2009.
"Eighty percent of the mosques were built by the private sector--not by the ministry," said Naqshbandi. In Kurdistan Region, the wealthy usually build mosques, not the government; the government mainly restores old mosques.
There is a special committee in the ministry designated to build mosques. And that committee has imposed certain terms and conditions for any donor who wants to build a mosque. The ministry decides where the mosque will be built and if the mosque design is attractive.
Mosques built in the last four years were funded by benevolent donors rather than the government, according to Naqshbandi.
Statistical figures show that there are 4,079 mosques in Kurdistan Region, Naqshbandi said. Some 600 were built by wealthy men. Kurdistan Region holds the world record in terms of number of mosques.
Whenever a donor proposes to build a mosque in the region, the ministry briefs him on the large number of mosques in the region and appeals to him to build a school or a hospital instead, as they are no less charitable works.
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