© July 22 2007, Uncornered Market
After Turkmenbashi converted from Communism and embraced Islam in the 1990s, he made his pilgrimage to Mecca. Rumor has it that he returned from Saudi Arabia with $10 billion in aid from the government...As most Turkmens do not have the opportunity to travel to Mecca, Sparmyrat Hajii Mosque was built in Geok-Depe (outside Ashgabat) to offer an alternative pilgrimage site. Like most buildings in Ashgabat, it's an elaborate affair.
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