Armenian vandalism in Shusha

Chol Gala Mosque

Chol Gala Mosque was one of the 17 mosques that were operating in Susha city during the 19th century. The city of Shusha consisted of 17 mahallas (quarter/district/neighborhood) that were divided into upper and lower mahallas. Chol Gala Mosque is located on Gasim bey Zakir Street of the Chol Gala mahalla, which was part of the upper mahallas of Shusha city.

Chol Gala Mosque was built in the 19th century by Karbalayi Safikhan Garabaghi. The Mosque did not have minarets. The shape of it was rectangular like most of the mosques of Shusha city. The general entrance of the Mosque consisted of an asymmetrically arranged main facade. At first glance, the two-story mosque with a glass balcony resembles a luxurious house.

Unlike the facade, the interior of the Chol Gala Mosque completely complying with Islamic architecture. The interior of the mosque is decorated with 4 octagonal stone columns. These columns divide the general prayer hall into three parts. Opposite the altar of the Mosque, an open prayer hall for women has been built in the depths of the general prayer hall (second floor). There is a separate entrance door to the women’s section and separate windows for lighting. Windows are arranged on three sides at the level of the first floor to illuminate the general hall. These windows serve to illuminate the hall, adequately.

Together with other famous monuments of the Shusha city, Chol Gala Mosque was considered one of the most valuable historical and religious monuments of the Shusha State Historical and Architectural Reserve. The fate of the Mosque was like other historical monuments of the Shusha after the occupation of the city by the Armenian Armed Forces in May 1992. It has been destroyed and plundered by Armenians during its 28 years of occupation.