The Great Mosque of Tinmel, a marvel of 12th-century North African architecture, is undergoing a meticulous reconstruction after being left in ruins by the devastating earthquake that struck Morocco in September 2023. The mosque, with its hand-carved domes and delicate brick-laid arches, stood for nearly 900 years before the earthquake reduced it to rubble. Its once-majestic prayer hall is now filled with debris, and the towering minaret that watched over the village lies shattered on the ground.
Tinmel, a small village nestled in the High Atlas mountains, lost 15 community members to the disaster, many of whom were mourned in front of the collapsed mosque. Among the victims was Abdelkrim, a substitute teacher and son of Mohamed Hartatouch. Abdelkrim tragically died beneath the weight of crumbling walls while villagers waited for rescue teams to arrive—help that took over a day to reach them.
Despite the destruction, the mosque remains a symbol of hope and resilience for the village’s residents. One year later, they are not only rebuilding their homes but also their cherished mosque. Tinmel’s villagers, like 32-year-old construction worker Redwan Aitsalah, view the mosque as a crucial link to their heritage and a source of both pride and potential economic revival in a region long plagued by poverty and underdevelopment.
The earthquake that struck in 2023 took nearly 3,000 lives and left a staggering trail of devastation, with 60,000 homes destroyed and 585 schools demolished. Rebuilding costs are projected at approximately $12.3 billion, according to Moroccan government estimates. Isolated mountain roads, such as the Tizi N’Test pass that connects Marrakech to Tinmel, were severely damaged, further hampering reconstruction efforts.
Efforts are now underway to carefully piece the mosque back together. Workers are meticulously sorting through the remains, salvaging bricks and fragments of the mosque’s intricate decorative elements in preparation for its restoration. The Moroccan government has enlisted the expertise of architects, archaeologists, and engineers to oversee the project, including Moroccan-born architect Aldo Giorgio Pezzi, who previously contributed to the restoration of Casablanca’s iconic Hassan II Mosque.
Morocco’s Minister of Islamic Affairs, Ahmed Toufiq, expressed the country’s commitment to restoring the mosque to its former glory. “We will rebuild it based on the evidence and remains that we have so it returns to how it was,” he told the Associated Press.
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The mosque’s significance to Morocco’s cultural heritage is immense. Built during the reign of the Almohad Dynasty, it served as inspiration for sacred sites in Marrakech and Seville. For centuries, pilgrims traveled through the rugged High Atlas mountains to visit the mosque, paying homage to the spiritual and political power it once represented. Though abandoned as political power shifted to larger cities, the mosque remained an important symbol for local residents, who respected it as a testament to their glorious past.
Today, villagers continue to live in temporary shelters, while some remain in their damaged homes. The Moroccan government has issued over 55,000 reconstruction permits and provided initial rebuilding aid to many families, though complaints have emerged that the financial support has been insufficient to cover the cost of rebuilding.
In addition to the physical losses, the earthquake has revealed the stark social and economic disparities that afflict the region. Poverty, illiteracy, and geographical isolation have made recovery efforts even more challenging for residents of the High Atlas mountains, who have long felt neglected by national development policies.
Yet, even as the villagers of Tinmel mourn their losses, they are committed to rebuilding not just their mosque but their futures. Morocco’s government has pledged an ambitious program aimed at reinforcing infrastructure, enhancing public services, and restoring the affected regions while honoring their unique cultural heritage.
The reconstruction of the Great Mosque of Tinmel stands as both a tribute to Morocco’s past and a hopeful symbol of a brighter future for one of the country’s poorest and most isolated regions. For the residents of Tinmel, the mosque’s restoration is more than just a physical rebuild; it represents a reinvestment in their community, their culture, and their dignity.
