The Istiklal Mosque stands on Bulevar Meše Selimovića in the Otoka district on the western side of Sarajevo. The project began in 1995, after the Indonesian president Suharto visited the city. Construction stalled after his presidency ended in 1998, and the mosque was inaugurated in September 2001. It was a gift from the Indonesian people, designed by Fauzan Noe'man at a cost of about $2.7 million. The name means independence, and it commemorates the independence of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The design is a postmodern interpretation of Islamic architecture from an Indonesian perspective. The copper-colored dome is about 89 feet (27 meters) across. Two minarets, each 157 feet (48 meters) tall, flank the entrance. The interior has Indonesian wood carving on the mihrab and minbar.
The mosque also hosts Quran recitation competitions and Islamic weddings.
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