{{Short description|Mosque in Algiers, Algeria}} {{Use mdy dates|date=September 2025}} {{Infobox religious building | name = Ali Bitchin Mosque | native_name = {{lang|ar|مسجد علي بتشين}} | native_name_lang = ar | image = Casbah Zoudj Ayoun.jpg | image_upright = | alt = | caption = | map_type = Algiers | map_size = 250px | map_alt = | map_relief = 1 | map_caption = Location of the mosque in Algiers | mapframe = yes | coordinates = {{coord|36.7870337|3.0619106|format=dms|type:landmark_region:DZ|display=inline,title}} | coordinates_footnotes = | religious_affiliation = Sunni Islam | locale = | location = Casbah, Algiers | country = Algeria | deity = | rite = | sect = | tradition = | festival = <!-- or | festivals = --> | cercle = | sector = | administration = | consecration_year = | organisational_status = {{ubl|Mosque {{small|(1622{{endash}}1830)}}|Profane use<br/>{{small|(1830{{endash}}1843)}}|Church {{small|(1843{{endash}}1962)}}|{{nowrap|Mosque {{small|(since 1962{{endash}} )}}}}}}<!-- or | organizational_status = --> | functional_status = Active | heritage_designation = | ownership = | governing_body = | leadership = | bhattaraka = | patron = | religious_features_label = | religious_features = | architect = | architecture_type = {{nowrap|Islamic architecture}} | architecture_style = Ottoman | founded_by = Ali Bitchin | creator = | funded_by = | general_contractor = | established = | groundbreaking = | year_completed = 1622 CE | construction_cost = | date_demolished = <!-- or | date_destroyed = --> | facade_direction = | capacity = 800 worshippers | length = | width = | width_nave = | interior_area = {{cvt|500|m2}} | height_max = | dome_quantity = | dome_height_outer = | dome_height_inner = | dome_dia_outer = | dome_dia_inner = | minaret_quantity = 1 | minaret_height = {{cvt|15|m}}{{efn|Subsequently reduced to {{cvt|12|m}}.<ref name="Dj"/>}} | spire_quantity = | spire_height = | site_area = | temple_quantity = | monument_quantity = | shrine_quantity = | inscriptions = | materials = | elevation_m = <!-- or | elevation_ft = --> | elevation_footnotes = | nrhp = | designated = | added = | refnum = | website = | module = {{Infobox UNESCO World Heritage Site | child = yes | part_of = Casbah of Algiers | year = 1992 | Criteria = {{UNESCO WHS type|(ii), (v)}}(ii), (v) | ID = 565 }}<!-- for embedding other infobox templates --> | footnotes = }}
The '''Ali Bitchin Mosque''' ({{Langx|ar|مسجد علي بتشين}}) is a Sunni mosque in Algiers, Algeria. It's named after Ali Bitchin, who ordered its construction in 1622 CE. It is situated inside the Casbah of Algiers, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, located at the crosspoint between Bab El Oued and the lower area of the Casbah.<ref name="Tu"/>
==History== Ali Bitchin ordered the construction of mosque in 1622, in the Ottoman style. A {{convert|15|m|ft|adj=mid|-high}} minaret was completed in the Maghrebi style.<ref name="Al">{{Cite web |script-title=ar:مسجد علي بتشين .. حكاية إسلام أميرال إيطالي بالجزائر - جريدة الوطن |url=http://alwatan.com/details/119989 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230502162414/https://alwatan.com/details/119989 |archive-date=2023-05-02 |access-date=2025-04-11 |website=alwatan.com |language=ar}}</ref> thumb|left|alt=Interior of Ali Bitchin Mosque (Algiers)|Interior of the mosque The {{convert|500|m2|sqft|adj=on}} mosque consisted of three floors, three rooms, ten shops, a bakery, a hamam, a mill and an inn. The inn was used by several high ranking politicians and religious leaders. Its hamam was especially popular and it remained active until two years after the French occupation begun. The mosque was located in the commercial area of the casbah, making many shops working around the mosque. In 1703, the mosque was briefly renamed to "Sidi al-Mahdi Mosque", reflecting the governor at the time.<ref name="Al"/> left|thumb|The new minaret by night in 2017 During the French occupation, height of the minaret was reduced to {{convert|12|m}}.<ref name="Dj">{{Cite web |script-title=ar:ترميم مسجد علي بتشين (الجزائر): إعادة فتح القاعة المخصصة للصلاة ابتداء من أول أيام شهر رمضان |url=https://www.djazairess.com/aps/82527 |access-date=2025-04-11 |script-website=ar:جزايرس |lang=ar |trans-website=djazairess.com }}</ref> The mosque was then converted to the military pharmacy center before turning into a church in 1843. After the conversion, some of the characters of the Islamic architectural style was lost. The French occupiers also took one of the doors of the Ketchaoua Mosque and used it as a decoration of the newly converted church.<ref name="Tu">{{Cite web |date=2018-01-02 |script-title=ar:المساجد والقصور العثمانية في الجزائر.. ماذا بقي منها؟ |url=https://www.turkpress.co/node/43813 |access-date=2025-04-11 |script-website=ar:ترك برس |language=ar |trans-website=turkpress.co }}</ref><ref name="Al"/> The mosque was among the 21 other mosques in the Casbah whose features were modified or transformed, for example by eliminating the wudu place and altering the mihrab.<ref name="Dj"/> It was reconsecrated as a mosque after the independence of Algeria, with the Christian cross removed from the minaret.<ref name="Al"/>
The mosque could initially accommodate up to 500 worshipers; and after renovations in 2010, it can accommodate an additional 300 worshipers.<ref>{{Cite web |script-title=ar:مسجد ''علي بتشين'' و''سيدي رمضان'' يلمَّان شمل المصلين بعد غياب طويل |url=https://www.djazairess.com/elhiwar/34487 |access-date=2025-04-11 |script-website=ar:جزايرس |trans-website=djazairess.com |lang=ar }}</ref>
Mohamed Charef served as imam from 1908 until 2011.{{dubious|date=September 2025}}{{cn|date=September 2025}}
== See also == {{stack|{{portal|Algeria|Islam|Architecture}}}} * Islam in Algeria * List of mosques in Algeria
== Notes == {{noteslist}}
==References== {{reflist}}
== External links == {{commons category-inline}}
{{Mosques in Algeria}}
Category:17th-century mosques in Algeria Category:17th-century mosques in the Ottoman Empire Category:Casbah of Algiers Category:Churches converted from mosques Category:Former churches in Algeria Category:Mosque buildings with minarets in Algeria Category:Mosques completed in the 1620s Category:Mosques converted from churches in the Ottoman Empire Category:Mosques in Algiers Category:Ottoman mosques in Algeria Category:Sunni mosques in Algeria