Egypt inaugurates newly restored 16th Century Ottoman mosque at Cairo citadel

Egypt has successfully inaugurated a beautifully restored Ottoman mosque within the renowned Cairo Citadel. The mosque, initially built by Suleyman Pasha al-Khadim, a 16th century governor, is an important part of Cairo's historic skyline. Its unique architecture, featuring 22 green-tiled domes and a prayer niche inlaid with famed Iznik tiles, sets it apart as Cairo's earliest Ottoman mosque. It was initially constructed in 1528 A.D., merely eleven years following the Ottoman army's conquest of Egypt from the Mamluk empire under the leadership of the Sultan Selim. The mosque complex spans an impressive 2,360 sq. meters and resides on the site of the ancient Fatimid-era tomb of Sayed Sariya, built in 1140 A.D., which is still preserved today. The painstaking restoration process took five years to complete and was completed under the close supervision of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities and the military's Arab Organisation for Industrialisation. The mosque, known as the Suleyman Pasha al-Khadim mosque and also referred to as the Sariya mosque, is located within the heart of the citadel. The citadel itself was constructed by the Muslim general Salah al-Din following his successful conquest of Cairo from the Fatimids, and soon after he would also conquer Jerusalem from the Crusaders.