Armenian vandalism in Shusha

Julfalar Mosque

Julfalar Mosque was one of the 17 mosques that were operating in the 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. Julfalar Mosque was located at the intersection of the Uzeyir Hajibeyov and G. Askarov streets of the Julfalar mahalla, which was part of the lower mahallas of Shusha city.

The Mosque was built in the 19th century in accordance with the architectural ideas of the architect Karbalayi Safikhan Garabaghi. Like Haji Yusifli Mosque, Julfalar Mosque did not have minarets and the external design of it was rectangular. The interior of the mosque completely complied with Islamic architecture. It consists of two floors. The second floor is for the praying of women and there is a hall like in the first floor for women and a separate staircase and entrance door. The windows on the main entrance door of the main facade are enough to illuminate the women’s section. Surrounded by four walls without columns, the general worship hall on the first floor that has a simple architectural structure is illuminated by the main facade and two windows on the altar side.

Together with other famous mosques and historical monuments of the Shusha city, Julfalar 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.