Iraq: militants overrun most of Mosul

BAGHDAD: In a stunning assault that exposed Iraq´s eroding central authority, al-Qaida-inspired militants overran much of Mosul on Tuesday, seizing government buildings, pushing out security forces and capturing military vehicles as thousands of residents fled the second-largest city.

The rampage by the black banner-waving insurgents was a heavy defeat for Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki as he tries to hold onto power, and highlighted the growing strength of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

The group has been advancing in both Iraq and neighboring Syria, capturing territory in a campaign to set up a militant enclave straddling the border.

There were no immediate estimates on how many people were killed in the assault, a stark reminder of the reversals in Iraq since U.S. forces left in late 2011.

Earlier this year, Islamic State fighters took control of Fallujah, and government forces have been unable to take it back.

Mosul is a much bigger, more strategic prize. The city and surrounding Ninevah province, which is on the doorstep of Iraq´s relatively prosperous Kurdish region, are a major export route for Iraqi oil and a gateway to Syria.

"This isn´t Fallujah. This isn´t a place you can just cordon off and forget about," said Michael Knights, a regional security analyst at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. "It´s essential to Iraq."

Al-Maliki pressed parliament to declare a state of emergency that would grant him greater powers, saying the public and government must unite "to confront this vicious attack, which will spare no Iraqi."

Legal experts said these powers could include imposing curfews, restricting public movements and censoring the media.

State TV said lawmakers would convene Thursday. Parliament speaker Osama al-Nujaifi, from Mosul, called the rout "a disaster by any standard."

Regaining Mosul poses a daunting challenge for the prime minister. The city of about 1.4 million and many in the community are already deeply embittered against the government.

During the nearly nine-year American presence in the country, Mosul was a major stronghold for al-Qaida. U.S. and Iraqi forces carried out repeated offensives there, regaining a semblance of control but never routing the insurgents entirely.

"It´s going to be difficult to reconstitute the forces to clear and hold the city," Knights said. "There aren´t a lot of spare forces around Iraq."

White House spokesman Josh Earnest deplored what he called the "despicable" acts of violence against civilians in Mosul. He said Washington is committed to its partnership with Baghdad but is urging the government to take steps to be more inclusive of all Iraqis.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned the attacks across Iraq in recent days "that have killed and wounded scores of civilians." He urged all political leaders "to show national unity against the threats facing Iraq, which can only be addressed on the basis of the constitution and within the democratic political process," according to UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric.

Insurgents and Iraqi troops have been fighting for days in Mosul, but the security forces´ hold appeared to collapse late Monday night and early Tuesday.

Gunmen overran the Ninevah provincial government building — a key symbol of state control — Monday evening, and the governor fled the city. The fighters stormed police stations, bases and prisons, capturing weapons and freeing inmates.

Security forces melted away, abandoning many of their posts, and militants seized large caches of weapons.

They took control of the city´s airport and captured helicopters, as well as an airbase 60 kilometers (40 miles) south of the city, the parliament speaker said.

Later Tuesday, Islamic State fighters took over the large town of Hawija, 125 kilometers (75 miles) south of Mosul, according to officials there.

On Tuesday, the militants appeared to hold much of the eastern half of Mosul, which is bisected by the Tigris River.

Residents said fighters were raising the black banners that are the emblem of the Islamic State.

Video taken from a car driving through the streets of Mosul and posted online showed burning vehicles in the streets, black-masked gunmen in pickup trucks mounted with anti-aircraft guns, and residents walking with suitcases.

ISIL supporters posted photos on social media showing fighters next to Humvees and other US-made military vehicles captured from Iraqi forces. (AP)

Pakistan’s most popular channel shut down

 

KARACHI: The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) has ordered the Geo News to shut down for 15 days. This goes against the sentiments of civil society, parliamentarians, political parties as well as all journalist associations, including the APNS, CPNE and PFUJ besides international human rights and freedom of speech advocacy groups like the Amnesty International, Reporters Without Borders, Committee to Protect Journalists, Human Rights Watch, Freedom Network and Pakistan Human Rights Commission, among scores of others.
The Pemra sent a formal letter on Friday June 6, 2014 ordering the Geo News to immediately shut down its transmission as well as to pay Rs10 million fine.A Jang Group/Geo spokesperson said on Friday night: “The decision taken is a grave injustice to the oldest, the biggest and the most popular media group of Pakistan. It appears the government finally gave in to the pressure of the powerful unseen forces and rushed through the decision to suspend the transmission of the leading independent and the most popular news channel in the country.”

The irony, he said, is that never in Pakistan any channel had ever been suspended, either by Pemra or even by any court. Even the channels that were owned by large business houses and gave biased and twisted news coverage to protect their business interests had never faced such a penalty. Channels that ran sustained campaigns to defame the Chief Justice of Pakistan and defamed the honourable judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts and even those caught red handed planting interviews to malign the Chief Justice of Pakistan had never been cautioned or penalised.

Not only this, channels and TV hosts who had openly raised doubts and suspicions about the Pakistan Army chiefs and prime ministers of being murderers, traitors or foreign agents had not been touched. Incitement to violence and proven defamation by these channels was never considered a big crime for them to be suspended or even fined.

The most vociferous TV anchor of a rival channel before retirement of the COAS had called him a CIA agent. He said this on live TV and then encouraged tweets to support his allegation. But neither he nor his channel faced any consequences.

According to the spokesperson, the Pemra action will damage the country as the first-ever TV channel to be suspended is a channel that had become the icon and spearhead of an independent media with a free editorial approach. It is the only channel that had transparently published its editorial policy on its website in the form of Geo Asool and which maintained the record of the most accurate and timely news coverage.

While the ISI’s complaint against Geo was only about a few hours of transmission on just one of its channels, all of Geo Network channels were virtually put off air by unknown forces — not very unknown though.

Geo had been condemned Supreme Court, through a 3-member bench, ordered it to be opened but nothing happened. Even Geo Kahani, Geo Entertainment, Geo Tez and Geo Super were shut, displaced or distorted. Dozens of Jang Group newspaper vans have been burnt, hawkers, reporters and editors beaten up and harassed.

No one has given us justice. Already Rs2 billion loss has been inflicted in an effort to coerce and force the Jang Group to fall in line. It is expected the losses will reach Rs2.7 billion (approximately US $27 million). This is the real penalty Geo has been forced to pay, which is unprecedented even by international standards.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had publicly stated that he was against any curbs on the independent media and against shutdown of any TV channel. Parvaiz Rashid, the Information Minister had also categorically stated on record that the government would not shut down any channel. He had assured that the government had avoided shutting down any channel in the past even though there was pressure from courts.

The 15 day official closure added to the 45 days of an illegal shutdown equals 60 days of closure. It should be noted that during the 2007 emergency of General Pervez Musharraf all channels of Geo Network were shut for approximately 90 days.

The Jang Group and GEO TV Network have faced such adversity from governments, civilian and military alike. Successive governments have tried to shut it down, stop its advertising and distort its transmissions and distribution through cable operators in the past.

Losses of over Rs8 billion had been inflicted on the Group (Approximately $80 million). The constitutional and intrinsic right of the viewers and readers to information and free and independent debates and analysis has been unconstitutionally hampered. Without these freedoms Pakistan cannot progress and be counted among the civilized countries of the world.

The Group editors, reporters and hosts believe that the truth, no matter how bitter, is always in the best interest of Pakistan than a lie, no matter how sweet.

The April 19 transmission, immediately after the attack on Hamid Mir, included content that was excessive, distressful and emotional for which Geo has apologized to all concerned. Regardless of this apology attacks still continue against the group, including physical attacks and harassment of reporters and editors as well as burning of newspaper vans.

The spokesperson said the only fault of the Jang/Geo group was that it was unwilling to allow its editorial policy to be dictated.

For hurt caused as well as for the sake of the lives of its tens of thousands of journalists and employees who are receiving daily threats, Jang/Geo TV network even went to the extent of offering an apology but it failed to calm the nerves of the powerful.

The spokesperson said it seemed that the government had finally surrendered in the face of tremendous pressure from unseen forces. It was only yesterday that Geo had served a lega notice to claim around US $50 million from the federal government, Pemra and ISI in terms of reputational damage as well as the actual damage caused to the group as their formal complaint included blaming Geo to “historically pursue an anti Pakistan agenda”.

The spokesman said it seemed that it was the legal notice to the Defense Ministry, Pemra and ISI that compelled the government to rush to deliver the final blow to Geo News. The head of Pemra was appointed only hours before Friday’s decision to suspend Geo News. The pressure, it seems was so great that Pemra went through with the decision even without giving the right of hearing to Geo News.

Clarifying the so-called contradiction between Geo News apology and its legal notice, the spokesman said that its apology and even Pemra’s yesterday’s decision was about Geo news transmission of 19 April. The group still stood by its apology. The basis of the legal notice was the unsubstantiated allegation that the Group has a history of pursuing Anti-Pakistan agenda. This was the worst kind of defamation. This allegation has caused huge actual and reputational loss to the Group and it exposed thousands of Group employees to life threats.

A section of the media has been instigating not only violence against Geo and its employees but also lobbying powerful forces not to accept Geo’s apology. They are doing this for financial gain as Geo Network has the largest advertising share because of its huge viewership and competitors thought they would stand to gain millions if Geo was shutdown. The Group has the largest circulated newspapers, news channels and entertainment channels as well as Pakistan’s only sports channel. In fact Geo News following is bigger than the next three channels combined.

On June 6, 2014, around 10 pm, Geo News shut down its transmission across Pakistan, asking its viewers to pray for justice.The channel will, however, consider all legal options with its editors and legal advisers.

Economic growth has increased but most targets couldn’t be met

 

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Finance Senator Ishaq Dar has conceded that the government has missed major economic targets of GDP growth, revenue, investment and inflation in the outgoing year.
The GDP growth remained at 4.14 percent against a target of 4.4 percent but in the last six years, this is the first time that Pakistan registered over 4 percent growth against the revised target of 3.7 percent, taking the per capita income up to $1,386 in 2013-14 from the revised target of $1,369 in 2012-13. Tax collection remained at 16 percent and inflation increased by 8.5 percent and unemployment registered an increase of 6.2 percent.

Announcing the results of the Economic Survey at a news conference, the finance minister said in the first year of its rule, the government spent its time in fire fighting and in the second financial year, which is 2014-15, the masses will be witnessing dividends of the prudent economic policies.

The minister said that he himself fixed the aggressive economic targets for 2013-14 so that the government could not remain complacent and because of hard work and good economic governance, the government had performed well in terms of achieving the GDP growth of 4.14 percent.

He vowed to increase the GDP growth by 1 percent every year and said that the size of the GDP had swelled close to $300 billion. The minister said the unemployment rate had increased to 6.2 percent from 5.9 percent from 2009-10. He stated that the impact of the war against terrorism remained at $102 billion and 50 percent of the population was living below the poverty line of $2 a day income.

“The vulnerable segments of the society will be taken care of and it was I who first proposed the Benazir Income Support Programme as target subsidy to provide solace to the poorest of the poor. The last government in five years time increased the BISP allocation from Rs34 billion to just Rs40 billion,” he said.

However, the government has increased the allocation under the Benazir Income Support Programme to Rs75 billion in the current financial year, which will be increased further in the next budgetary year. Next year, the government will provide financial help to 4,700,000 poor people.

Coming to the GDP growth analysis, the minister said that the overall industrial growth remained at 5.84 percent in the first nine months against 1.37 percent in the same period of the last year. He said the Large Scale Manufacturing (LSM) sector grew by 5.31 percent as against 4.1 percent last year.

The construction sector grew tremendously by 11.3 percent in the first nine months of the current financial year as against the negative growth of 1.7 percent in 2012-13.

Electricity generation and gas distribution sector grew by 3.72 percent against the negative growth of 16.3 percent in the last financial year. “This has really helped increase growth of the industrial sector.” He said growth in small and household sector stayed at 8.4 percent against the growth of 8.3 percent in the same sector last year.

However, the Economic Survey said during 2013-14, energy consumption was 40,185 million TOEs compared to 40,026 million TOEs in 2012-13 showing a growth of 0.4 percent. Now the industrial growth could be questioned with an increase in electricity consumption by 0.4 percent.

However, the minister admitted the agriculture sector growth remained very low at just 2.1 percent against 2.88 percent last year. However, in the next budgetary year, the government will come up with alluring incentives to increase the growth in agriculture sector.

Dar said the growth in important crops remained at 3.7 percent as against 1.2 percent last year. Other crops that included oil seeds and pulses showed negative growth at 3.5 percent as against 6.1 percent last year. He said that the country also witnessed a reduction in growth as cotton production remained at 12.77 million bales against 13.03 million bales.

The minister said that for agriculture sector, the government allocated Rs380 billion for the current year against Rs315 billion last year. Next time the government will increase the credit lines for the agriculture sector. He also mentioned that fertilisers also remained short and the government had somehow managed to provide the imported fertilisers at Rs1,786 per bag plus Rs25 of dealers margin. “We brought down the prices of fertiliser from Rs1,952 per bag to Rs1,786,” he said.

Mentioning the services sector, the minister said that this sector failed to perform up to the expectations as it grew by 4.3 percent against the growth of 4.9 percent in the last financial year.

In transport, storage and communication sector, the growth remained at 3 percent against 2.9 percent, in wholesale and retail trade 5.2 percent against 3.4 percent, finance and insurance 5.2 percent against 9 percent, housing services remained at 4 percent against 4 percent last year and growth in general government services tumbled by 2.2 percent against 11.3 percent and in other private sector, the growth stayed at 5.8 percent as against 5.2 percent.

About inflation, the minister said that during the July-April period, it remained at 8.8 percent against 7.75 percent last fiscal. However, till May this year, inflation remained at 8.6 percent as against 7.5 percent. About the core inflation which he termed very important saying it remained at 8.2 percent against 9.7 percent in 11 months of the outgoing fiscal.

The minister also said that government borrowing had reduced and the monetary policy had improved. Highlighting the exports of the country, he said that exports had increased by 4.24 percent to $21 billion in the last 10 months against $20.1 billion in thesame period last year and because of the GSP Plus, the textile sector grew by 7 percent and raw cotton export 42 percent. However, it would have been better if the value addition had been added and finished products exported instead of exporting raw cotton. However, the imports, the minister said, had increased by 1.2 percent to $37.1 billion from $36.7 billion in 2012-13. Dar mentioned the reason for the increase in exports saying that plants and machinery had been imported on a large scale, which is in a way a positive sign for growth in economy.

Investment to GDP has reduced to 13.99 percent from 14.57 percent of GDP last year. Fixed investment has also tumbled to 12.39 percent of the GDP against 12.79 percent. Out of this, the private investment remained at 8.94 percent against 9.64 percent of GDP. Dar said that total investment was recorded at Rs3,276 billion in 2012-13, which increased to Rs3,554 billion in 2013-14. The minister said that Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) had reached $2.979 billion that also included the $2 billion Euro Bond. However, in the last year in the same period it stood at $1.277 billion.

Talking about the foreign exchange reserves, the minister said that reserves had reached $13.66 billion against $11.4 billion. He mentioned in February last year, the reserves stood at just $7.5 billion out of which the central bank reserves were at $2.7 billion. Now the situation had completely changed as right now the State Bank of Pakistan reserves had reached $8.8 billion whereas the reserves of commercial banks were stagnant at $4.8 billion.The growth in remittances has slightly reduced to $12.894 billion from $13.921 billion.

Ronaldo crowned world’s most marketable player

PARIS: Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo is the world s most marketable footballer according to a study released by an international sports market research company Wednesday. Barcelona and Argentina forward Lionel Messi ranked second in the study conducted by Repucom ahead of club teammate and surprise third placed entry Gerard Pique of Spain.

The data measured the perceptions of over 6 500 people in 13 countries including Britain the United States Brazil China and India which was reportedly claimed to represent the views of more than 1.5 billion people worldwide.

Ronaldo who helped Real Madrid clinch a 10th Champions League title on Saturday was also found to be the most well-known player on the planet with 83.9 per cent of people aware of who he was.

Ronaldo is an endorser’s dream. His value is as important to the teams he plays for as they are for the companies that endorse him, said Paul Smith, CEO of Repucom.

Global awareness of Ronaldo is what drives his commercial power and with over 82 million facebook likes and 26 million Twitter followers he is also one of the most liked in the business. (APP/AFP)

Sona to Wear Bollywood's Most Expensive Outfit?

Sonakshi is presently shooting for Boney Kapoor's production film Tevar. She will be seen sharing screen space with Arjun Kapoor. Directed by Amit Sharma, this film is a remake of a Telugu blockbuster Okkadu.

 

According to reports, Sonakshi will be grooving for the item number Radha Toh Nachegi and the sets of the song track costs about Rs 2.5 crores and her white lehenga choli costume, Rs 75 lakh. The song was recently shot in Indore and Sonakshi looked stunning as she matched the moves of her choreographer Remo D Souza. The film is slated to release in July.

Birthday Special: Aamir Khan's MOST popular dialogues

As Aamir Khan turns 49 on March 14, we look at some of  his most popular dialogues over the years.

Aamir Khan has a way with words.

Whether he’s proposing to his ladylove on screen, selling a can of Coke or guilt tripping us into waking up early on a Sunday morning to catch his social chat show, Satymev Jayate, there’s simply no ignoring the star of record-breaking blockbusters like Ghajini, 3 Idiots and Dhoom 3.

Bollywood’s most reliable celebrity turns 49 on March 14. And we’re celebrating the occasion by listing 15 of his most memorable movie lines. Don’t forget to share your favourites in the message board below.

Dhoom 3

'Circus-wala hoon, sirf aankhon ko nahi maut ko dhoka dete hoon. Roz.'

Aamir Khan checkmates his unsuspecting opponent during Dhoom 3’s pre-climatic twist with smug logic that’s hard to beat, especially when the guy at the receiving end happens to be Abhishek Bachchan.

Selena Gomez is most elegant princess in the world: Justin Bieber

Selena and Justin had sparked reconciliation rumours last year when Bieber had posted a picture on Instagram in which Gomez had
cuddled the ‘Baby’ hitmaker from behind. (Reuters)
Troubled pop star Justin Bieber showed his love for former girlfriend Selena Gomez by calling her the most elegant princess in the world.
The 20-year-old singer shared photographs of Gomez which was taken at the Vanity Fair post Oscar party hosted by Graydon Carter, reported Ace Showbiz. In the photo, Gomez can be seen wearing an Emilio Pucci dress paired with natural look make-up. ”Most elegant princess in the world,” Bieber captioned the photo.
The duo had sparked reconciliation rumours last year when Bieber had posted a picture on Instagram in which Gomez had
cuddled the ‘Baby’ hitmaker from behind.

DareToZlatan - The Most Amazing Q&A Session in Twitter History

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is fast becoming one of the most loved football personalities in the world, as well as one of the game's most outstanding talents.

The gift that keeps on giving took to Twitter today in true Zlatan style to do a Q&A session for his followers and anyone that was interested.

The hashtag #DareToZlatan was trending for most of the day and it's probably a result of the big Swede's hilarious Zlatan-esque responses, mostly given in the third person.

Here's a roundup of some of the truly amazing tweets

Aishwarya most searched Indian woman on Google

According to IBTimes Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai has emerged as the most searched successful Indian woman on Google.

The search engine giant on Women’s day revealed the list of the top 20 most searched women names in the last two months.

Ash is ranked number one followed by the ‘Kahaani’ actress Vidya Balan in second place.

Meanwhile, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi is on third, and rounding out the top five were Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa and Badminton player Saina Nehwal.

Other notables in the list include film producer Ekta Kapoor, actress and social activist Shabana Azmi, director Meera Nair and fashion designer Ritu Kumar.

7 Most Scariest Places In The World

Ghosts, Spirits, Demons etc are not only fictional horror movies but they really exist. No religion and faith denies the existence of ghosts and spirits except science. There is no scientific proof that either ghosts or spirits exist or not. Following are the places which are widely known for their evil beings and are considered scariest and haunted places on earth.

7. Riddle house, Palm Beach County, Florida

Riddle house is old Victorian house in Palm Beach county Florida; it was later dismantled and moved to Yesteryear village. It was owned by Karl Riddle in 1920s. There are lots of stories about the paranormal activities happening inside and around this house. This house was originally a funeral parlor. It is said that some guy who hung himself and suicide because he was blamed for something he hadn’t done, and now his ghost attacks men. There is a Cemetery near the house, all residents who work there died and disappeared short of any explanation.

 

6. Helltown, Ohio

Lots of people have experienced this scary place. There are lots of murders, satanic worships, animal attacks, accidents and magical activities are reported from this area. There is a Stanford road in this town and people say if you kept on wandering on this road for too long u might come up with abnormal behaving people, Ku Klux Klan members and large snakes.

 

5. Stull Cemetery Stull, Kansas

Evil place and Dangerous place defines it. It is very much famous for rumors stating that Stull Cemetery and abandoned burned Church has a gateway to 7 doors of Hell. Satan has a grave of his child in this cemetery which is visits often. John Paul refused to even Fly over the eastern Kansas, because this place is known to be so much unholy.

 

4. Humberston and Lanoria, Chile

Humberston and Lanoria are two mining towns which are abandoned for years. Historians say that these towns are haunted because of tortures and abusive slavery given to men and women and Children abuse. There are stories of Zombies and Ghosts living in these towns, many believe that many people never came back once they entered in those towns. As soon as night comes, you will start hearing the footsteps and ghostly voices. Many claim to have tried to record these acts in cameras and tape recorders. These towns are very much horrifying that locals even refuse to pass them by.

 

3. Shades of death road, New Jersey

It is often called “the most haunted road in the world, because of paranormal sightings”. There is a ghost lake somewhere around this road. In 1990s, a guy who detected the area and claimed to have captured some pictures of paranormal happenings on this road like blurred women, changing skies, paranormal creatures, and giants but most scary thing was that all those things just disappeared from his Polaroid camera when police investigated

 

2. Tuol sleng Genocide Museum, Cambodia

Tuol Sleng is widely known as Security Prison S-21. It is actually genocide museum in Phnom Penh. In 1970s 20,000 people were imprisoned at Tuol Sleng but only 12 survived. The ghosts of roughly 17000 dead prisoners who were tortured and brutally killed wander in the halls. The cells were without beds and prisoners were chained inside the cell. They had different ways to torture the prisoners, like laughing and crying was not allowed. If somebody tried to break a rule he was given lashes and shocks of electric charge. The scariest part is that Rice is sparkled in the cells even now a days as offering to the spirits.

 

1. Catacombs of Paris, France

In city of love, Paris, there is this underground cemetery which is a part of 280 KM network of tunnels. Ancient spirits and ghosts of all dead skulls wander in these tunnels as all locals believe. It is so scary to believe that every part of wall is constructed by the Human Skull and bones, who do they belong? Why they are not peacefully buried? Of-course the spirits of these people are not rest in peace. This ossuary was left open for public in 1867. Would you like to visit this place?. This place is considered as in the most scariest places in the world.

40 Most Beautiful Mosques in World

We have beautiful mosques all over the world. Here’s over pick for top 40 most beautiful Mosques of the world. They reflect great culture of Muslim world.

It’s difficult to list out top 40 so if I missed out any, you can contribute through comments.

1. Masjid Al Haram Saudi Arabia (Makkah)

Located in Makkah, It is largest mosque of world with a capacity of 4 Million worshipers. Muslims turn towards Kaaba during any prayer.

2. Masjid E Nabawi Saudi Arabia

“Mosque of the prophet” , so called beacuse it was constructed by Holy Prophet S.A.W in Madina. The basic plan of construction has been used throught the world for building mosques.

3. Al-Aqsa Mosque – Jerusalem, Israel,Plaestine

Al-Aqsa Mosque is the second oldest mosque in Islam after the Ka’ba in Mecca, and is third in holiness and importance after the mosques in Mecca and Medina. It was first Qibla for muslims. It has capacity of 400,000 worshipers at a time.

4. Mosque of Cordoba, Spain

The mosque of Cordoba was first constructed in 787, Its construction continued for years as each succeeding caliph made some extensions. The mosque of Cordoba introduced several Architectural features and techniques that became part of muslim architecture.

5. Sheikh zayed mosque Abu Dhabi

It is one of the largest mosques of the world with a capacity of around 40,000 worshipers.  It features 82 domes, over a 1,000 columns, 24 carat gold gilded chandeliers and the world’s largest hand knotted carpet. The main prayer hall is dominated by one of the world’s largest chandeliers –10 metres in diameter, 15 metres in height and weighing twelve tonnes.

6. Floating Mosque, Jeddah

Floating Mosque in Jeddah is one of the sacred sites in the city of Jeddah. The mosque is placed just next to the Red Sea which gives the impression that the mosque is floating in water. It is henceforth named the Floating Mosque. Due to the shimmering white color of the mosque it is also referred as the White Mosque. The mosque is located close to the center of Jeddah. The interior of the mosque is beautifully decorated. The mosque has all the modern facilities like the latest technology based sound systems.

7. Faisal Mosque Islamabad, Pakistan

The Faisal Mosque is the largest mosque in Pakistan and South Asia and the third largest mosque in the whole world. It is situated in Islamabad near Naval Complex, Sector E-8. It covers an area of 54,000 sq ft. Its conceived as national mosque of Pakistan. It has a capacity to accommodate a total of 3,00,000 people. It has four minarets, each of which is 260 ft high. The Faisal Mosque is named after the King Faisal bin Abdul Aziz who supported andfinanced its construction.

8. Sabanci Mosque Adana Turkey

Sabancı Mosque in Adana is the largest mosque in Turkey. The exterior of the mosque is similar to the Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Blue mosque) in Istanbul while the interior decoration is similar to the Selimiye Mosque in Edirne. Constructed in 1998, it is built on a total of 52,600 square meter of land and has a closed area of 6,600 square meters.

9. Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque, Brunei

The Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin mosque is a majestic mosque in the capital city of Bandar Seri Begawan. It  is named after Omar Ali Saifuddien III. It was constructed in 1958. The mosque is built blending the Islamic architecture with Italian style. It is set in a man-made lagoon on the banks of the Water Village and is beautifully lit during the night.

 The main feature of the mosque is the main dome which is covered with pure gold. The minarets are constructed out of marble. The prayer hall can accommodate over 3,000 people and has beautiful carvings with arches, tinted glass windows and marble columns. The mosque is surrounded by trees and flower gardens giving a blissful touch.

10. Putra Mosque – Putrajaya, Malaysia

The Putra Mosque, or Masjid Putra in Malay language, is the principal mosque of Putrajaya, Malaysia. Construction of the mosque began in 1997 and was completed two years later. It is located next to Perdana Putra which houses the Malaysian Prime Minister’s office and man-made Putrajaya Lake. In front of the mosque is a large square with flagpoles flying Malaysian states’ flags.

11. Qol Sharif Mosque – Kazan Kremlin, Russia

Located within the Kazan Kremlin walls, Qol Sharif is the largest mosque of Russia. The mosque is named after Imam Seid Qol Sharif, who defended Kazan against the Russian Tsar Ivan the Terrible. It’s actually 16th century mosque which was rebuilt in 1996 and inaugurated in 2005.

12. Crystal Mosque Malaysia

The Crystal Mosque or Masjid Kristal is a mosque in Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia. The mosque is located at Islamic Heritage Park on the island of Wan Man. The mosque was constructed between 2006 and 2008. It was officially opened on 8 February 2008 by 13th Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin of Terengganu.

13. Wazir Khan Mosque Lahore

Wazir Khan Mosque is situated in Lahore. It is famous for its extensive tile work on its exterior and interior walls. It is sometimes called as “a mole on the cheek of Lahore”. Shah Jehan built this in 1635. It looks same after centuries passed away.

14. Selimiye Mosque – Edirne, Turkey

Selimiye mosque is located in Edirne Turkey. The mosque was commissioned by Sultan Selim II and was built by architect Mimar Sinan between 1569 and 1575. The exterior and interior of Selimiye Mosque are impressive. The wide, imposing dome is supported by eight pillars, arches, and external buttresses, creating a deceptively spacious interior. Because the pillars only carry a portion of the weight of the dome the walls are strong enough to hold the dozens of windows which flood the mosque with light. The natural light illuminates the colourful decorations, decorative tiles, and calligraphy of the interior.

15. Baiturrahman Mosque – Banda Aceh, Indonesia

Mesjid Raya Baiturrahman is a large mosque located in the center of the city of Banda Aceh, Aceh province, Indonesia. The mosque was designed by an Italian architect and built by the Dutch colonial administration as a token of reconciliation following their destruction of an older mosque during the Aceh wars. Construction of the mosque commenced in 1879 and was completed in 1881. The mosque survived the massive 2004 tsunami which destroyed much of the rest of the city of Banda Aceh.

16. Sultan Hasan Mosque, Cairo, Egypt

The Sultan Hassan Mosque and madrasa (School) is considered stylistically the most compact and unified of all Cairo monuments. The building was constructed for Sultan Hassan bin Mohammad bin Qala’oun in 1256 AD as a mosque and religious school for all sects. It was designed so that each of the four main Sunni sects has its own school while sharing the mosque. The cornices, the entrance, and the monumental staircase are particularly noteworthy.

17. Badshahi Mosque Lahore

“Badshahi Mosque” literally means “Emperors Mosque”. Its construction was started in May 1671 by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. It is situated in Lahore. It is the second largest mosque in Pakistan and fifth largest mosque in the world. It is Lahore’s major landmark and a great tourist attraction. It attracts a net total of more than 5, 00,000 tourists from all over the world. Its courtyard covers an area of 278,784 sq ft. it can accommodate total of 110,000 people at a time.

18. Dearborn-mosque-michigan America

Dearborn mosque is largest mosque in US. The center has a gold-domed mosque flanked by two minarets helping to make the 70,000 square-foot facility one of the largest Islamic centers in North America. The main prayer hall accommodates 1,000 people, including 700 men in one area and 300 women in the balcony.

19.  Al. Azhar mosque Egypt Cairo

The Mosque of al-Azhar was founded by Jawhar al-Siqilly, the Fatimid conqueror of Egypt, in 970 as the congregational mosque for the new city of al-Qahira. The first khutba was delivered from its minbar in 972 and a university was established there in 988.

20. Azadi Mosque , Ashgabat – Turkmenistan

It was one of the first mosques built after the independence of Turkmenistan in the early 1990s and like several other mosques in the country resembles that of the Blue mosque of Istanbul.

21. Sultan Mosque Singapore

The Sultan mosque was first built in the 1820s. However the original structure was demolished about a century later to make way for the current building, which was completed in 1932. The mosque holds great significance for the Muslim community, and is considered the national mosque of Singapore. It was designated a national monument in 1975. It was named after Sultan Hussein Shah.

22. Mosque of Djenne, Mali

The Great Mosque in Djenné, Mali is not only the world’s largest mud brick building but also a model of ecofriendly and sustainable architecture. Though the current mosque was ordered to be built by the French colonial administration in 1906, its style follows African ones of the region. In fact, the mosque is considered by many to be one of the finest examples of the architectural style found in the very dry Sahel and Sudanian regions south of the Sahara, where Islamic influences are abundant.

23. Ruhy Mosque , Ashgabat – Turkmenistan

Ruhy Mosque is the largest mosque in Central Asia. Twenty thousand men and woman can pray at the same time. The floor of the mosque is covered in handmade Turkmen praying mats and an enormous eight-sided carpet decorates the very center of the mosque. It consists of two floors – on the first floor men pray; on the second, women. It has four minarets and a golden dome sits the central upper part of the mosque. The height of each minaret is 91m, and the dome is 50 m high, covered in gold. The mosque is surrounded by extravagant fountains and gardens.

24. Grand mosque, Xian China

The Great Mosque in Xian is one of the oldest, largest and best-preserved Islamic mosques in China and its location is northwest of the Drum Tower (Gu Lou) on Huajue Lane. It was built in 742 during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). This was a result of Islam being introduced into Northwest China by Arab merchants and travelers from Persia and Afghanistan during the mid-7th century when some of them settled down in China and married women of Han Nationality. Their descendants became Muslim of today.

25. Shahjahan Mosque Thatta, Pakistan

Shah Jahan Masjid, built in 1644 and 1647. Its 93 domes around a central courtyard give it superb acoustics, while wind towers provide natural air-conditioning. The tile work with wide-ranging shades of blue – and the calligraphy are equally impressive, and it is one of Pakistan’s loveliest mosques. It’s said that Shah Jahan built the mosque to repay the townspeople for their hospitality when he sought refuge here after revolting against his father, the Mughal emperor Jehangir.

26. Al-Saleh Mosque, Sanaa- Yamen

The Al Saleh Mosque is the largest and most modern mosque in Sana’a, Yemen. Inaugurated in November 2008, it is named after Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh. It can hold up to 40,000 worshippers and cost nearly 60 millionUS Dollars to build. At the time of construction and opening, it was criticized for being too expensive in relation to Yemen’s general impoverishment.

27. Ketchimalai Mosque , Beruwala – Sri Lanka

28. Masjid E Tooba Karachi Pakistan

Tooba Mosque is located in Karachi. One of its common names is “Gol Masjid” which is probably because of its elliptical structure. It was built in 1969. It is claimed to be the largest single dome mosque in the world. It is a major tourist attraction. Tooba Mosque was built with pure white marble. Its dome is 236 ft in diameter. It has a single minaret 70 meters high. Its central hall can accommodate total of 5000 people.

29. Al-Nilin Mosque, Omdurman – Sudan

Masjid e Nilin is a mosque in omdurman, Sudan. It is located on the west bank of Nile river. IT WAS BUILT IN 1970′s  and since then remains one of the fine architectural religious venues in the country.

30. Jama Masjid Delhi India

Jama Masjid of Delhi is the largest mosque in India. The Jama Masjid stands across the road in front of the Red Fort. Built between 1644 and 1658, Jama Masjid is one of the last architectural works of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. The Jama Masjid was completed under the supervision of Saadullah Khan, the Prime Minister of Shah Jahan. A sum of Rs 10 lakhs was spent on the construction of the Jama Masjid.

31. Al Rahman Mosque , Aleppo – Syria

32. Hassan II Mosque – Casablanca, Morocco

The work on the mosque was commenced on 12 July 1986, and was intended to be completed for the 60th birthday of the former Moroccan king, Hassan II, in 1989. However, the building was not inaugurated until 30 August 1993. During the most intense period of construction, 1400 men worked during the day and another 1100 during the night. 10,000 artists and craftsmen participated in building the mosque. Built on reclaimed land, almost half of the surface of the mosque lies above sea water of the Atlantic. This was inspired by the verse of the Qur’an that states “the throne of Allah was built on water.” Part of the floor is glass and offers a view down at the sea.

33. Bhong Masjid Sadiqabad, Pakistan

Bhong Mosque is located in the village of Bhong, Sadiqabad, Punjab Pakistan. It was designed and constructed over a period of nearly 50 years (1932–1982) and won the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 1986.It is considered as one of most beautiful mosques of world.

34. Maschour Zhusup Kopeevcentral Mosque – Pavlodar, Kazakhstan

Built in the city centre, the mosque has two prayer halls that can accommodate 1,200 men and 300 women respectively. It is adorned with an 8-axis star, a dome and 4 minarets.

35. Tooting Mosque London

Also known as,  Al-Risala School, it was built in 1997.

36. Al Nida Mosque Baghdad Iraq

37. Al Fateh Mosque Bahrain

Al Fateh Mosque can encompasses 6,500 square meters with capacity to accommodate over 7,000 worshippers at a time. Its huge dome is completely made of fiber glass. Throughout the mosque are calligraphy writings in a very old type of style called Kufic

38. Fatima Mosque Kuwait

It is considered an architectural masterpiece radiate Balnoranip and faith, hangs throughout the year, especially with lights in the month of Ramadan to welcome thousands of worshipers, and remain a witness outstanding design and conical dome unique overlap of Islamic art.

39.  Great Mosque of Damascus Syria

The Grand Mosque of Damascus, known more commonly as the Umayyad Mosque, is one of the largest and oldest mosques in the world. The mosque occupies a huge quadrangle 515 by 330 feet (157 by 100 m) and contains a large open courtyard surrounded by an arcade of arches supported by slender columns.

40. Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, Bausher – Oman

The Sultan Qaboos grand mosque is built from 300,000 tonnes of Indian sandstone. The main musalla (prayer hall) is square (external dimensions 74.4 x 74.4 metres) with a central dome rising to a height of fifty metres above the floor. The dome and the main minaret (90 metres) and four flanking minarets (45.5 metres) are the mosque’s chief visual features. The main musalla can hold over 6,500 worshippers, while the women’s musalla can accommodate 750 worshipers. The outer paved ground can hold 8,000 worshipers and there is additional space available in the interior courtyard and the passageways, making a total capacity of up to 20,000 worshipers.