Mariam Al-Batool Mosque

Mariam Al-Batool Mosque (Arabic: مسجد مريم البتول, lit. "The Virgin Mary Mosque",[14][15] also known as Paola Mosque[16] or Corradino Mosque)[17] is a mosque located in Paola, Malta.[18] The first stone of the mosque was laid by Muammar Gaddafi in 1978[19] and its doors were open to the public in 1982, and officiated in 1984. The initial scope of the building was to serve the Muslims in Malta, at the time mainly economic migrants from Libya,[10] and to promote conversions to Sunni Islam among the Maltese society.[20][21]

Mariam Al-Batool Mosque
مسجد مريم البتول
il-Moskea
Mariam Al-Batool Mosque
Religion
AffiliationIslam
Branch/traditionSunni Islam, but hosts other Muslims and occasionally other faiths[1]
OwnershipIslamic Call Society[2]
Leadership
  • Imam(s):
    Mohammed Elsadi[3][4][5]
  • Chairman:
    Imam Wagdi Nashnosh (Director)[6]
  • Spokesperson:
    Muchtar Aziz (secretary)[7]
Location
LocationPaola, Malta
Shown within Malta
AdministrationIslamic Call Society[8][9]
Geographic coordinates35.875897°N 14.508822°E / 35.875897; 14.508822
Architecture
Architect(s)Mohammed Abid el-Soukri
TypeMosque
StyleIslamic architecture
General contractorGemco International Ltd. Co.[10]
Date established1982
Construction costLm 900,000[11]
Specifications
Capacity500 worshippers[12][13]
Interior area225 m2 (2,420 sq ft)[12][10]
Dome(s)1
Minaret(s)1
Minaret height31.5 m (103 ft)[10]
MaterialsLimestone
Website
mariamalbatool.com (Islamic Centre)[9]

Even though there are a number of other Muslim places of worship in Malta,[22][23][24] the Mariam Al-Batool Mosque is the only officially recognized and mosque-designed structure in the country,[25][26][27] so it is colloquially referred to in Maltese as simply il-Moskea (lit. "the Mosque").[28] The building of others have been proposed.[29][30][31][32]

History

The mosque is built at Corradino Hill,[33] close to the Corradino Lines and the Kordin III megalithic temple.[34][35][36] The formerly public land, circa 6,700 square metres (0.0026 sq mi),[10] was bought[10] (or donated) from the Maltese government[37] in 1975 which consisted of an undeveloped site. A full development application was drafted by 16 April 1975.[38] Construction on the mosque started in 1978 and finished in 1982 when it was opened to the public.[10][39] The mosque was officially opened in 1984 by Muammar Gaddafi[40] when Malta and Libya signed the Treaty of "Friendship and Cooperation".[41] The mosque and Islamic centre were given diplomatic immunity by the Maltese Government.[42][43] Muammar Gaddafi directly contributed to the project[44][45] both by buying the land and by partly funding the construction of the mosque.[46][47]

The mosque is found on the side of Dom Mintoff Road (formerly Corradino Road)[48][49] and is administered by the World Islamic Call Society (WICS). It was built during Prime Minister Dom Mintoff's term in office[50] during the first wave of economic negotiations between Malta and Libya.[27][51] The Government of Malta, under Prime Minister Dom Mintoff, has also contributed to the building of the Mosque.[52] The Mosque and the minaret costed roughly Lm 900,000.[53]

Complex

Dom Mintoff Road: Mosque Complex on the left, MCAST to the right

The Mosque is found in an Islamic complex,[14] referred to as the Mosque complex,[54][55] called the Islamic Centre in Malta.[56] The complex also consists of a school, the Mariam Al-Batool School,[57][58] the Islamic Cultural Centre (Ċentru Kulturali Islamiku), a courtyard, the Imam's house,[59] The Malta Islamic Cemetery (Iċ-Ċimiterju Islamiku f'Malta)[13][60] and the Mediterranean Garden.

The latter is situated on public land, next to the mosque complex.[61] It was originally called Gaddafi Gardens,[62][63][64] and it became known as Libyans' Garden after the Libyan Civil War.[65] It was officially renamed to its present name in March 2016.[49]

The Malta Islamic Cemetery is built on public land with permission granted by the Maltese government.[66] There is a plan to build a secondary school for Muslim children at the back of the Mosque.[67] The complex, specifically the mosque, has become symbolic of the revival of Islam in Malta,[53] and been seen by some as the first wave of modern "Muslim invasion"[33][68] and significantly it symbolizes 'Libya's bridge to Europe'[69] specifically after the Lockerbie bombing.[70]

Governance

Islamic Cultural Centre, Paola

The Mosque is administered by members of the Muslim community and separate from the government of Malta.[71] The main Imam of the Mosque is Mohammed Elsadi,[72][73][74] known as "Ix-Xih" (literally meaning "the elder").[75] Elsadi was born to Palestinian refugees whom came to Malta because of the Arab-Israeli war.[76][77] As a consequence El Sadi has obtained Maltese citizenship.[78] Elsadi is described as a fundamentalist by Fr René Camilleri for supporting the strict compliance to sharia, but anthropologist Ranier Fsadni believes this is not a common belief among Muslims and that the Imam is "intellectually honest".[79] Indeed, the consumption of alcohol, by Muslims in Malta, is a common practice that goes against the fundamental teachings of Islam.[20][80]

The Islamic religious culture affairs is under the responsibility of Omar Ahmed Farhat.[81] Muslims have the right to govern their religious environment issues in line with Maltese law[82] and the government of Malta is sensitive about it.[23] When the Mosque was inaugurated it was considered very large[33] but today the mosque's religious service on its own has become too small to cater for the unforeseen growth of the Muslim community, mainly being foreigners.[83][84]

Bader Zeina, a Palestinian migrant,[85] is a separate Muslim organizer and leader of the Islamic Community Malta (ICM).[86]

Architecture and customs

The Mariam Al-Batool Mosque is the first Mosque in Malta to be built in modernity,[87][88] with the most previous Mosque having been built in 1702 during the Order of St John[89] for Turkish slaves[90] within a prison building[91] of which no traces remain and limited description of its construction.[92] A street in Mdina, Triq Mesquita (Mesquita Street) and Piazza Mesquita, may have been named after a former Mosque that stood on site during the Arab period in Malta.[93][94][95] However these were probably named after a former Governor of Mdina that was named Don Mesquita.[96][97]

Most Islamic-related themes have been "eradicated from the national narrative."[68][98]

On 21 April 1975 Libya has bought a land area of 6,700 m2 (0.0026 sq mi) in Paola. The land was acquired to build a muslim centre according to Libyan customs designed by the Libyan architect Mohammed Abid Elshukri, which is the architect of the Mosque, the Islamic Cultural Centre and a terrace overlooking the original gardens where the school and the cemetery are found today. The project was entrusted to Gebco International Ltd. Co. under the supervision of Maltese engineer Alfred Balzan. The first stone was laid by Muammar Gaddafi on 2 July 1978 in a public ceremony. The Mosque was constructed with the use of Limestone, plastered, and painted in green, yellow and pink colors. The minaret became a landmark in Paola skyline since then, being the second highest building after the parish church until day, at 31.5 metres (103 ft) high.[10]

Exterior

The minaret is a landmark in Paola. The whitewashing contrasts with the traditional colors of the mosque, after its refurbishment.[10]

On the façade a plaque refers to the building simply as 'Moskea' that is a word in use in Maltese when referring to a Mosque. The shell structure of the Al-Batool Mosque is made of limestone while the arabic architecture is made of both limestone and wood. The mosque has one dome painted in green[99] (Gaddafi is well associated with this color) and one minaret that is a landmark in its own right by being visible from wide parts of the surroundings, and for this reason it is often used to explain directions.[100][101]

The minaret has been recently restored,[10] of which during restoration the flag of Libya was put to waive on it as a symbol of the downfall of Muammar Gaddafi, during the Libyan civil war.[102][103][104] After the restoration the green color surface of the minaret was changed from dark green[99] to light green could be observed, with the pink color being completely removed;[105] while the mosque has had no recent restoration keeping the traditional colors since the inauguration by Gaddafi.[46][47]

The mosque and the minaret are distinguished from the rest of Maltese architecture by adopting arabic masonry such as the building of the dome, the windows, an octagonal minaret, and the aesthetic use of eye-catching light colors from the exterior.[27][106]

Interior

The interior consists mainly of the Islamic prayer hall in the form of sex segregation. Women have separate rooms next to the mosque of which entrance is from the back side, probable within the cultural centre building.[27] An Islamic code of clothing is followed and provision for decent covering, mainly for women according to Muslim traditions, is available.[27] Malta has no restrictions on Islamic dressing such as the veil (hijab) nor the full face veil (burqa and/or niqab)[107] but strictly speaking face covering is illegal,[108] however an official ban on face covering for religious reasons is ambiguous.[109] However it is guaranteed that individuals are allowed to wear as they wish at their private homes and at the Mosque.[108] Imam El Sadi has said that the banning of the niqab and the burka "offends Muslim women".[110] Elsadi said that the Maltese's "attitude towards Muslim women" is positive and despite cultural clashes they tolerate their dressing.[111] Some Muslim women share the belief that it is sinful to be seen in public without veiling themselves,[112][113] however they are lawfully required to remove it when needed such as for photos on identifications.[114] The mosque also consists of a washing room for the obligatory tradition[23] of Muslims to wash themselves before prayers.[27][115] A larger than usual Koran is displayed inside the mosque.[116]

Public policy

Mariam Al-Batool Complex as seen from MCAST

The mosque is open for the public, including non-Muslims,[27][117] from 8am to 10pm. Traditional Friday prayers are held every Friday at 1pm.[118] Conservative Muslim customs have to be respected,[119] such as the removal of shoes before entering the mosque, men-only space and women-only space specifically during prayer time, and other Islamic-related customs.[27]

Catering

According to Imam Mohammed el-Sadi, the Islamic centre issues certificates for each wedding that takes place on site but these are not considered legitimate by the state and are legally null.[120] Wedding ceremonies are celebrated at the mosque, including interfaith ceremonies,[121] but Muslim women are not welcomed to conduct their ceremonies at the mosque if they wed a non-Muslim, while non-Muslim women are told to raise their children as Muslims when marrying a Muslim man and advised before the ceremony takes place at the mosque.[78] Imam El Sadi does not encourage mixed-faith marriages as the overwhelming majority of them fail.[83] The mosque does not cater or welcome LGBT people and their rights,[122] bringing some controversy in the Maltese political sphere.[123][122]

Attendants

The mosque is visited by mainly Maltese Muslims, tourists,[27][124] migrants and refugees.[112][125] The Muslim community in Malta has increased from less than a hundred Muslims in 1974,[126] to 3,000 Muslims in 2007,[127][128] to 6,000 Muslims in 2011,[98] to 10,000 Muslims in 2014.[129] These estimates can be discredited as there has never been a proper conducted census about the Muslim population by the National Statistics Office (NSO Malta).[130] There are about 18,000 refugees in Malta according to The Daily Telegraph[131] with the overwhelming majority being males[132] and Muslims.[133]

In 2016 Ivan Vella said that there are up to 45,000 Muslims in Malta[134] but this was also a conservative figure. With the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in Libya over 55,000 visas were issued for Libyan citizens, generally of Muslim faith, to live in Malta, between 2011 and 2015. However, these are, for the most of them, temporary visas for medical care or other reasons.[135]

Entry to Mediterranean Garden (formerly Gaddafi Gardens) and The Malta Islamic Cemetery[13]

The rapid growth of Muslims is mainly attributed to economic migrants,[136] accompanied by interfaith marriages.[137][138] Over 1,300 men are naturalized Maltese citizens[139] mostly through marriage,[140] and around 250 are native-born citizens of Malta.[141] Around 350 Maltese citizens are reported to have converted to Islam,[139] mainly Maltese women before or after marrying their Muslim husband;[142][113] in general this is desired by Muslims to ensure that their children are raised "devout muslims".[143][142] Maltese women are at times either "forced",[144] pressured or persuaded to convert to Islam.[144] Some muslim fathers have gone as far as taking their children away from their Maltese mothers, by taking them to their country of origin,[144] with the scope to further ensure that they are raised as Muslims.[143][142][145][146]

The mosque has become too small in the context of the growth of the Muslim population.[129] Most of the attendants are from Libya, Somalia and Syria.[147] The rise of crime among foreign Muslims,[148][149] in Malta, is turning the mosque community into an isolated ghetto.[150] Imam Elsadi himself said that the Muslim community aims not to "live in ghettoes".[77][151] Some efforts by Maltese politicians have taken place to avoid this, such as by official visits.[152]

Communication

The mosque makes the use of both Arabic as an Islamic tradition and English to communicate to the multicultural attendants.[153] The loudspeaker at the mosque was shortly used to call for prayers[154] but stopped after the nearby communities complained as the adhan unconventionally was used as early as 4 a.m. and disturbed public peace.[16][155] The mosque is a seldom place of some conflict between non-nationals but mostly peaceful.[156][157][158] The mosque's administration communicates to the public in general through their website mariamalbatool.com.[159][160] Other forms of communication is participation in media discussion, such as on radio and on television, and occasional events such as conferences.[161]

Mosque-state relations

Official visits

Mariam Al-Batool School is interconnected to the Mosque via the Islamic Cultural Centre[11]

The then President of Malta George Abela has paid a visit to the Islamic centre in Paola in specific the Mariam Al-Batool School.[152] Archbishop Paul Cremona has visited the mosque delivering prayers in it[17][162] and on a different occasion he has also visited the Islamic Cultural Centre.[122]

The Prime Minister of Malta Lawrence Gonzi was the first Maltese politician to have visited the mosque[163] when discussions on the financial crisis situation of Mariam Al-Batool School were the main reason.[30] The mosque was subsequently visited by the Prime Minister Joseph Muscat[164] and US Ambassador to Malta Douglas Kmiec also in cause of the Mariam Al-Batool financial crisis.[81][165] In 2015 the Mosque received a visit by the Qatari Ambassador for Malta Ali Alkhirgi together with Prime Minister Joseph Muscat to discuss for a possible plan to build another Mosque in the north of Malta.[71]

Political activism

Imam El Sadi has pledged political support to both political parties sitting in the Maltese parliament (during the different visits of both prime ministers) on condition to improve the Islamic environment ranging from the building of new mosques, financing education at Mariam Al-Batool School, recognising Islamic traditions and others.[163][166] However, according to Elsadi himself the Muslim community is a majoritarian Labour Party supporter. This is encouraged by Mario Farrugia Borg (a Muslim convert[167] and former Nationalist Party supporter[168]), who is a leader at the Islamic Centre and a secretariat of Prime Minister Joseph Muscat.[169] The Nationalist Party is known in recent history that for several years referred to the Muslims as "tal-habbaziz" (literally refers to Northern African selling cyperus esculentus[170]) which is a derogatory reference when referring to an Arab; this has contributed to make the mosque complex a ghetto and associating anything Arab with pessimist remarks, such as the Arabic language.[150][171] However the party has been trying to be more inclusive to the muslim community in more recent years.[172] Indeed, a meeting that was held with the muslim community to celebrate iftar was called by Imam Elsadi as a "historic" event.[173] Political pressure from the mosque administration on the government of Malta has become common in the exchange of favors such as voting during elections.[174]

Alternative prayer houses

Apart from resolving the school financial crisis, most of the visits at the mosque are devoted to discuss the building of new Mosques. This is in the context that the Al-Batool Mosque is the only official Mosque in Malta, with more than fifteen other Muslims prayer houses scattered around the country such as; Birkirkara,[114] Bugibba,[23][114][175] Fgura,[176] Ghaxaq,[114] Marsa (Albert Town),[22][177] Hal Safi (Open Centre),[23] Pieta,[178] St. Paul's Bay,[155] San Gwann (Ta' Giorni),[71][178] Sliema (Dar tal-Islam),[23] Hal Far,[178] Qawra, Msida,[114][178][179] Zurrieq,[114] and others.[23][180][181]

Of these at least two prayer houses[182] have legal permission by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) to operate as informal Mosques.[183] The building of a Mosque in Marsascala at the American University of Malta (AUM) has been shelved for now.[184][185] The Maltese government has provided for an interfaith room at Mater Dei Hospital that is the main public hospital in Malta.[186] An interfaith centre of religious service consisting of a church, a mosque and a synagogue designed by Richard England was planned to be built in Xewkija, Gozo[187][188] but after receiving local opposition to the project it remained shelved.[189]

Situation

Some prayer houses that have not been granted legal permission to operate as Mosques were shut down[180] and the Malta Security Services (MSS) is concerned[190][191] about these settlements fearing some of these places may radicalize some Muslims and recruit youth converts that may threaten national security.[192] In response to this Bader Zeina has taken a Muslim group to pray at Sliema waterfront to demand for the "fundamental human right" of worshipping gods both in private residences without legal restrictions and on public property. Zeina said that in the case of a backclash, coming from discrimination, "violence or revenge" may be expected.[86]

The National Constitutional Court of Malta has said that even though individuals have the right to private property the use of such right has its limitations, and that there were no victims of discrimination as the law is proportional to everyone, with respect to freedom of assembly and freedom of expression, including freedom of religion. For this reason the court has noted that there was no breach of article 8 (1) of the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR), which is in harmony with the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.[193]

Following this, in January 2016 a male-only muslim group started to gather for Friday prayers in an open public place, in front of a Roman Catholic church, in Msida. These prayers were said to be considered, by organizer Bader Zeina, as also to be a form of protest for not having where to pray.[194][195][196][197][198] The same organizer was previously involved in similar acts, such as in Sliema[23] and Bugibba,[199] when it became known that gathering and location were never the issues but rather the want of another place other than Mariam Al-Batool Mosque. Faced with similar crisis from the Muslim community, the Maltese Government made temporal arrangement for Islamic prayers in Floriana. The building known as the Ospizio, a former mental health hospital that is now hosting the prayers, is ideal as it is found right behind the national police headquarters in Malta.[200][201][202][203][204]

Imam El Sadi has said that he is left uninformed about public prayers, organized by Zeina, and about any negotiations with the government.[205] The Imam was not able to give his position about public prayers organised in Sliema[206] and Msida as these were not his initiatives and he was neither informed of.[205]

Religious freedom

The US embassy in Malta has stated that respect to religious freedom is guaranteed by the government of Malta and reports of "forced religious conversion" are absent.[207] Mario Farrugia Borg, who works at the mosque, had stated that by being appointed as a personal secretariat at the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) and being a Christian convert to Islam he does not observe any discrimination.[167] Imam El Sadi describes the Maltese society as "generous and tolerant".[33] However, when a former Muslim, Khaled Baarl, had announced publicly on Xarabank his conversion from Islam to Christianity he was discriminated by exclusion from the Muslim community, and threatened to death by Syrian refugees.[148]

Dome and minoret

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has some worrying reservations over "some groups" that promote radical sunni Islam in the form of salafism, and has largely relied on the Mariam Al-Batool Mosque's administration to help managing the crisis.[189][208] The integration process of refugees within Maltese society has failed because of the large number of foreigners coming within a short period.[167] Most refugees who arrive in Malta are from war-torn Islamic countries, some with fundamentalist ideologies, such as Libya, Somalia and Syria.[191] Extremist remarks against western countries by muslims have been reported in the northern region of Malta.[191] Mario Farrugia Borg, being a muslim himself, has called for drastic measures against "illegal migration".[167] The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has ruled against Joseph Muscat's opt for "pushback" of illegal migrants to Libya, despite the threat some refugees may present, as this goes against the fundamental human right principle of non-refoulement.[209] Imam Elsadi has distant himself from Islamic extremism[210] but still supporting fundamental principles of Islam.[79] Elsadi does not believe there are threats of terrorism in Malta[211] but does not rule out extremism sympathisers among the local Muslim community.[212] The Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) have taken some precautions for this matter.[213]

Laiq Ahmed Atif (the President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community in Malta, born in Pakistan) has said that even though Islam literally means peace, the action of some are far-off than peaceful, and has called for the "need to reform" Islamic culture.[214] He also adds that adherents of Islam "have a religious duty" to live in peace in Malta.[215] He encouraged reforming the process of refugees' integration such as by teaching the Maltese language and Maltese culture.[214] However Imam Elsadi has not conceded to the teaching of Maltese culture where it is contrary to Islamic traditions.[216] Elsadi and Ahmed Atif have both condemned the Charlie Hebdo shooting that took place in January 2015.[217] A protest was organised by the Muslim community right after Friday prayers in December 2015, at the Mariam Al-Batool Mosque, to distant themselves and the Islamic religion from every sort of terrorism were roughly around 100 muslims had attended. This had further shown that during Friday prayers, when attendance should be at its peak, most muslims are not attending the Al-Batool Mosque.[218][219][220][221] According to Imam Elsadi several muslims in Malta are "ignorant" about Islam, and argues that since many muslims come from homogenous societies they find it hard to accept diversity in Maltese society, and even among other muslim ethnic group themselves.[151]

Context

For these reasons the Mariam Al-Batool Mosque has once again gained national notability in Malta, over similar controversies,[53] since its inauguration by Muammar Gaddafi in 1984.[40] In order to address such crisis the Maltese government and the Muslim society have agreed to seek the building of another mosque in Malta;[222] if this materializes the Mariam Al-Batool Mosque will no longer be the "only mosque in Malta".[223]

See also

Further reading

References

  1. Nielsen, Jørgen S.; Nielsen, Jørgen; Akgönül, Samim; Alibasi, Ahmet; Racius, Egdunas (12 October 2012). Yearbook of Muslims in Europe. ISBN 978-9004225213. Volume 4, p. 389.
  2. Christian W Troll; C T R Hewer (eds.) (2012), Christian lives given to the study of Islam, Fordham University Press, p.259.
  3. "MARIAM ALBATOOL SCHOOL". www.mariamalbatool.com. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  4. "Malta imam warns Libyans 'foreign intervention is not free of charge'". MaltaToday.com.mt.
  5. Nielsen, Jørgen; Akgönül, Samim; Alibašić, Ahmet; Racius, Egdunas (19 September 2013). Yearbook of Muslims in Europe. p. 432. ISBN 9789004255869.
  6. "MaltaMedia.com New chapter in Maltese inter-religious history". Maltamedia.com. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  7. Islamochristiana. 22 October 2010. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  8. Nielsen, Jørgen; Akgönül, Samim; Alibašić, Ahmet; Racius, Egdunas (19 September 2013). Yearbook of Muslims in Europe. p. 430. ISBN 9789004255869., Volume 5.
  9. "Islamic Centre - NCFHE - National Commission for Further Higher Education Malta". NCFHE - National Commission for Further and Higher Education Malta.
  10. Camilleri, William (2006). "Ic-Centru Islamiku". postijiet.webs.com (in Maltese). Archived from the original on 13 November 2015.
  11. "ThinkSite.eu".
  12. Nielsen, Jørgen S.; Nielsen, Jørgen; Akgönül, Samim; Alibasi, Ahmet; Racius, Egdunas (12 October 2012). Yearbook of Muslims in Europe. p. 391. ISBN 978-9004225213.
  13. "The Muslim Cemetery at Paola". lineone.net.
  14. Smyth, Emer; Lyons, Maureen; Darmody, Merike, eds. (2013). Religious Education in a Multicultural Europe: Children, Parents and Schools. Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 78–82. ISBN 9781137281500.
  15. Allied Newspapers Ltd. "A school with a difference". Times of Malta.
  16. "Mepa approves building of secondary school next to mosque". The Malta Independent. 5 July 2013. Archived from the original on 17 September 2013.
  17. Calleja, Claudia (27 February 2008). "Archbishop prays at mosque in message of dialogue". Times of Malta. Archived from the original on 16 August 2013.
  18. "Press Releases - Valletta, Malta - Embassy of the United States". usembassy.gov. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  19. Stråth, Bo (2010), Europe and the Other and Europe as the Other, p. 248.
  20. "MaltaToday". maltatoday.com.mt.
  21. "Islelanders".
  22. "MaltaToday". maltatoday.com.mt.
  23. Nielsen, Jørgen; Akgönül, Samim; Alibašić, Ahmet; et al., eds. (2013). Yearbook of Muslims in Europe, Volume 5. BRILL. p. 431. ISBN 9789004255869.
  24. Sammut, Carmen (2007), Media and Maltese Society, Lexington Books, p. 61.
  25. Ziebertz, Hans-Georg; Riegel, Ulrich (2009). How Teachers in Europe Teach Religion. p. 126. ISBN 9783643100436.
  26. "Moskea Malta, the Only Mosque and Islamic Center in Malta". our-travel-destinations.com. October 2010. Archived from the original on 28 March 2015.
  27. Rix, Juliet (2013). Malta and Gozo. Bradt Travel Guides. p. 188. ISBN 9781841624525.
  28. Borg, Joe (9 May 2009). "Should there be more mosques in Malta?". Times of Malta. Archived from the original on 13 November 2015.
  29. Peregin, Christian (11 January 2013). "Gonzi: I'll write off Muslim school's debts". Times of Malta. Archived from the original on 9 August 2013.
  30. Camilleri, Neil (7 August 2015). "Islamic Call Society asks government for help to find land for a new mosque and school". The Malta Independent. Archived from the original on 16 October 2015.
  31. Camilleri, Neil (27 August 2015). "OPM says there are no plans for a new mosque on AUM Marsascala campus, no request was made". The Malta Independent. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015.
  32. "Muslims don't define themselves as Muslim, just as Catholics don't define themselves as Catholic - The Malta Independent". independent.com.mt.
  33. The New Encyclopćdia Britannica: Macropćdia - Encyclopaedia Britannica, inc. 19 March 2007. ISBN 9780852295717. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  34. "Research Initiatives Archive - University of Malta". Um.edu.mt. Archived from the original on 26 November 2015. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  35. "Islam in Malta". 4 September 2014. Archived from the original on 13 November 2015.
  36. Goodwin, Stefan (2002), Malta, Mediterranean Bridge, pp. 185-186.
  37. Cordina, J. C. (2018, December 30). Islamic Centre in Malta commemorates its 40th Anniversary. The Malta Independent, pp. 37.
  38. Geo, Volume 3, Issue 2 p.66
  39. "The Muslim Cemetery at Paola" Malta Family History.
  40. Uwe Jens Rudolf, Warren G. Berg (2010), Historical Dictionary Malta, p.143.
  41. "DIPARTIMENT TAL-INFORMAZZJONI DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION MALTA - Press Release" (PDF). Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  42. Goodwin, Stefan (2002). Malta, Mediterranean Bridge. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 186. ISBN 9780897898201.
  43. Global Affairs, 1986, p.94.
  44. Malta and the security of the Mediterranean region. 14 June 2011. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  45. Allied Newspapers Ltd. "Four decades in Libya's embrace". Times of Malta.
  46. Rudolf, Uwe Jens; Berg, Warren G. (2010). Historical Dictionary of Malta. Scarecrow Press. p. 143. ISBN 9780810873902.
  47. Camilleri, Neil (26 August 2015). "Most AUM students will be Muslim, Social Impact Assessment urges construction of mosque in Zonqor". The Malta Independent. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015.
  48. "Corradino Road becomes Dom Mintoff Road, Gaddafi Gardens renamed". Times of Malta. 30 March 2016. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
  49. Administrator. "Profil". ghaqdaduminkumintoff.com. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
  50. Allied Newspapers Ltd. "Gaddafi and Malta-Libya relations". Times of Malta.
  51. Kullhadd. "Kullhadd - Gazzetta bil-Malti - Sitwazzjoni Difficli Ghall-Girien Taghna - Ahbarijiet". kullhadd.com. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
  52. "ThinkSite.eu".
  53. "PL committed to help Mariam al-Batool school develop", Maltastar.com, 2012.
  54. "Maltastar.com". www.maltastar.com. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  55. "World Islamic Call Society". islamicfinder.org. Archived from the original on 28 October 2015.
  56. "Country Report: Malta", 2008.
  57. Sansone, Kurt (2 March 2013). "Muslim school gets Labour's support". Times of Malta. Archived from the original on 13 November 2015.
  58. A Chronicle of Twentieth Century Malta - Joseph Bonnici, Michael Cassar. 26 June 2008. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  59. "L-aħħar tislima lil Rodwan, it-tifel fost 10 aħwa li miet traġikament". TVM.
  60. "No Need for Gaddafi Gardens to be renamed - The Malta Independent". independent.com.mt.
  61. "Postijiet interessanti - F'Rahal Gdid". postijiet.webs.com. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  62. Gaul, Simon (2007). Malta, Gozo and Comino. p. 226. ISBN 9781860113659.
  63. "New student facilities for MCAST campus in Paola". MEPA. June 2011. Archived from the original on 5 February 2012.
  64. Deidun, Alan (2014), "A tribute to local mature gardens", Times of Malta.
  65. Nielsen, Jørgen S.; Nielsen, Jørgen; Akgönül, Samim; Alibasi, Ahmet; Racius, Egdunas (12 October 2012). Yearbook of Muslims in Europe -. ISBN 978-9004225213. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  66. Allied Newspapers Ltd. "Islamic school expansion given green light". Times of Malta.
  67. Gerard, Alison (2014), The Securitization of Migration and Refugee Women, Routledge, p. 19.
  68. "MaltaToday". maltatoday.com.mt.
  69. Nielsen, Jørgen S.; Nielsen, Jørgen; Akgönül, Samim; Alibasi, Ahmet; Racius, Egdunas (12 October 2012). Yearbook of Muslims in Europe. pp. 389–390. ISBN 978-9004225213.
  70. "Islamic Call Society asks government for help to find land for a new mosque and school - The Malta Independent". independent.com.mt.
  71. Studi magrebini. 9 September 2008. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  72. Vogel, Dita (2009), Stories and Reflections of Immigrant Activists in Europe, p.28.
  73. Schembri Orland, Kevin (17 December 2014). "Muslim spiritual leader in Malta Imam Elsadi strongly condemns ISIS". The Malta Independent. Archived from the original on 7 July 2015.
  74. Emer Smyth, Maureen Lyons and Merik Darmody (2013), Religious Education in a Multicultural Europe: Children, Parents and Schools, Palgrave Macmillan, p. 78.
  75. Allied Newspapers Ltd. "Mother, baby mourn at slain migrant's funeral". Times of Malta.
  76. "Malta Today". maltatoday.com.mt.
  77. "Imam El Sadi condemns Boko Haram kidnapping - The Malta Independent". independent.com.mt.
  78. Allied Newspapers Ltd. "What's wrong with chopping off thieves' hands, Imam asks". Times of Malta.
  79. "Where to find halal food in Malta?", halaltrip.com, 2014.
  80. "U.S. Ambassador Visits Paola Mosque and Mariam Albatool School". Embassy of the United States in Malta. 9 December 2009. Archived from the original on 12 September 2015.
  81. "Malta" (PDF). State.gov. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  82. Allied Newspapers Ltd. "Spiritual detox through fasting". Times of Malta.
  83. "Maltastar.com". www.maltastar.com. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  84. "Protest 'to reflect deadly Gaza bombings' held - REMEMBER.COM.MT - Malta's TOP informative one stop website". remember.com.mt. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  85. Peregin, Christian (2009), "Muslims gather in prayer along Sliema front".
  86. 2006, New Oxford Review, Volume 73, p. 34.
  87. Geo. 1981.
  88. Wettinger, Godfrey (2002), Slavery in the Islands of Malta and Gozo ca. 1000-1812, Publishers Enterprises Group, p. 455.
  89. Brydone, Patrick (1813). A Tour Through Sicily and Malta.
  90. Wettinger, Godfrey (2002), in Cini, George, "Horrible torture on streets of Valletta".
  91. Wettinger, Godfrey (2002). Slavery in the Islands of Malta and Gozo ca. 1000-1812. ISBN 9789990903164.
  92. Gülhanın Galaksi Rehberi (2011), "MALTA Hakkında TV programları", Malta'da Öğrencilik.
  93. "Islamic Focus".
  94. David Tschanz. "Malta and the Arabs". academia.edu. p.6.
  95. Francesco Balbi, Ernle Dusgate Selby Bradford (1965), "The Siege of Malta, 1565", Boydell Press, ISBN 9781843831402, p. 176.
  96. Pickes, Time (1998), "Malta 1565: Last Battle of the Crusades", Osprey Publishing, ISBN 9781855326033, p. 79.
  97. AlliedNewspapers Ltd. "Perceptions of Muslims shaped by island's history". Times of Malta.
  98. "Postijiet interessanti - F'Rahal Gdid". postijiet.webs.com. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  99. "First PRE-HISTORY DAY AT KORDIN III TEMPLE, PAOLA - The Malta Independent". independent.com.mt.
  100. Armstrong, Gary; Mitchell, Jon P. (2008). Global and Local Football: Politics and Europeanization on the Fringes of the EU. Routledge. p. 67. ISBN 978-113426919-8.
  101. Ltd, Allied Newspapers. "Libyans in Malta feel born again". Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  102. "Libyans Discard 'Gaddafi's rubbish' from Ta' Giorni school, change residency flag - The Malta Independent". independent.com.mt.
  103. "Libia Riani - Il-Libjani jtellghu l-Bandiera Originali Libjana". radaris.com.
  104. Allied Newspapers Ltd. "Libyans in Malta feel born again". Times of Malta.
  105. Peter L. Twohig and Vera Kalitzkus (eds.) (2005), Social Studies of Health, Illness and Disease: perspectives from the social sciences and humanities, p. 50.
  106. Yearbook of Muslims in Europe, Volume 4 p. 393.
  107. Dalli, Miriam (2015), "MP calls for banning of the burqa: ‘Decision requires rational debate’", Malta Today.
  108. Camilleri, Neil (2015), "In Malta, wearing a burqa while driving is ‘not illegal’ - police", The Malta Independent.
  109. "Imam says burqa and niqab ban 'offends' Muslim women". Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  110. "Times of Malta ‒ 'Muslim women should be able to wear hijab at work'". Timesofmalta.com. 21 January 2013. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  111. "Report on Equality" (PDF). Euroinfo.ee (in Estonian). Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  112. Ltd, Allied Newspapers. "Election of Muslim girl champions diversity". Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  113. Jørgen Nielsen; Samim Akgönül; Ahmet Alibašić; Egdunas Racius (2014), Yearbook of Muslims in Europe, Volume 6, Brill, p.411.
  114. Ahmad Chaudhry, Rashid (2015),"Ahmad and Sarah go to Mosque", Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat Malta.
  115. Press Releases, "U.S. Ambassador Visits Paola Mosque and Mariam Albatool School" Archived 17 November 2015 at the Wayback Machine
  116. "Maltastar.com". www.maltastar.com. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  117. "Malta-Information.com - Malta & Gozo - Useful Information - Religion". malta-information.com.
  118. "Il-Moskea" (PDF). Ahmadiyya.org. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  119. https://academic.oup.com/ojlr/article-abstract/7/3/498/5101402
  120. "MALTA QORTI CIVILI (SEZZJONI TAL-FAMILJA) ONOR. IMHALLEF : ROBERT G MANGION". Justiceservices.gov.mt. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  121. Peregin, Christian (25 June 2010). "Muslims and Catholics unite against gay marriage but disagree on divorce". Times of Malta. Archived from the original on 13 November 2015.
  122. Attard Montalto, Tim (8 November 2013). "Muslim candidate is in line with Labour policy, says Muscat". Malta Today. Archived from the original on 5 July 2014.
  123. "» A Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide to Malta". Halaltrip.com. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  124. Nielsen, Jørgen; Akgönül, Samim; Alibašić, Ahmet; Racius, Egdunas (31 October 2014). Yearbook of Muslims in Europe. p. 411. ISBN 9789004283053. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  125. Impact: International Fortnightly. 9 March 2011. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  126. Group, Taylor Francis (1 September 1997). Europa World Year - Taylor & Francis Group. ISBN 9781857433050. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  127. Mazawi, André E.; Sultana, Ronald G. (15 February 2010). World Yearbook of Education 2010: Education and the Arab 'World': Political. p. 244. ISBN 9781135177058. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  128. "Il-komunità Musulmana b'xewqa għal żewġ Moskej ġodda u skola akbar". TVM (in Maltese). 29 December 2014. Archived from the original on 13 November 2015.
  129. Zammit Martin R. (2012), in Jørgen S. Nielsen, Jørgen Nielsen, Samim Akgönül, Ahmet Alibasi and Egdunas Racius (2012), Yearbook of Muslims in Europe, Volume 4, Brill, p. 389.
  130. Freeman, Colin (2013), "EU immigration: 'Malta is the smallest state, and we are carrying a burden that is much bigger than any other country'"
  131. Gerard, Alison (2014), The Securitization of Migration and Refugee Women, Routledge, p. 20-28.
  132. "Nitkelmu" (PDF). Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  133. Diacono, Tim (2016), "[WATCH] ‘Patriot’ arrested after harassing media during protest", Malta Today
  134. "Aktar minn 55,000 visa lil Libjani", netnews.com.mt, 2015.
  135. "If Malta votes divorce, some fear the winner will be radical Islam". Catholic News Agency.
  136. "Islam in Malta", Thinksite.eu.
  137. "Church commission talks of alarming rate of interfaith marriages". MaltaToday.com.mt.
  138. Nielsen, Jørgen S.; Nielsen, Jørgen; Akgönül, Samim; Alibasi, Ahmet; Racius, Egdunas (12 October 2012). Yearbook of Muslims in Europe. BRILL. ISBN 978-9004225213. Retrieved 13 June 2017 via Google Books.
  139. Goodwin, Stefan (2002), Malta, Mediterranean Bridge, p. 185.
  140. Annual Report on International Religious Freedom 2002. 2002.
  141. "Court: Father Fears daughter maybe brought up as a Muslim - The Malta Independent". www.independent.com.mt. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  142. Ltd, Allied Newspapers. "Mother fights to bring children back to Malta". Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  143. Ltd, Allied Newspapers. "Updated - Maltese mother in battle for return of children 'abducted' to Libya". Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  144. "Mother fights to bring children back to Malta Libyan father took son and daughter after marriage failed"
  145. "Court: Father Fears daughter maybe brought up as a Muslim"
  146. Allied Newspapers Ltd. "Libyans top list of people who apply for asylum". Times of Malta.
  147. Pisani, John (2010), "Heddewh wara li deher fuq il-programm Xarabank: Ragel li kien musulman u sar kristjan", L-Orizzont.
  148. Micallef, Keith (2015), "Somali, Libyan remanded in custody over Paceville fight", Times of Malta.
  149. Sammut, Carmen (2015), in Leone-Ganado Philip, at "Facebook fiction that became media fact", Allied Newspapers - Times of Malta.
  150. Vogel, Dita (2009), Stories and Reflections of Immigrant Activists in Europe, Peter Lang, p. 29.
  151. "President George Abela pays a Visit Miriam Al Batool School". gov.mt.
  152. "World Islamic Call Society, Paola". halaltrip. Archived from the original on 13 November 2015.
  153. Smyth, Emer; Lyons, Maureen; Darmody, Merike (29 August 2013). Religious Education in a Multicultural Europe. p. 78. ISBN 9781137281500.
  154. "Mosque In St Paul's Bay - The Malta Independent". independent.com.mt.
  155. Attard, Charmaine (25 April 2014). "Ġlieda qrib il-Moskea f'Raħal Ġdid". Newsbook (in Maltese). Archived from the original on 13 November 2015.
  156. "Ġlieda bejn ħames persuni wara talb fil-Moskea f'Raħal Ġdid". TVM (in Maltese). 25 April 2014. Archived from the original on 13 November 2015.
  157. Ameen, Juan (26 April 2014). "Five men arrested for brawl at Paola mosque". Times of Malta. Archived from the original on 4 May 2014.
  158. "Sorry. The page you are looking for does not exist". www.ncfhe.org.mt. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  159. "MARIAM ALBATOOL SCHOOL". mariamalbatool.com.
  160. Vogel, Dita (2009), Stories and Reflections of Immigrant Activists in Europe. pp.28, 29., ISBN 978-3-631-58422-4.
  161. "Mons Scicluna jitlob ma' mexxejja reliġjużi oħrajn fil-Moskea ta' Raħal Ġdid". NET News (in Maltese). 20 June 2014. Archived from the original on 13 November 2015.
  162. Borg, Bertrand (23 February 2013). "May Malta have a stable future - Imam". Times of Malta. Archived from the original on 1 March 2013.
  163. "Muscat tells Muslim school: 'consider school loan as an investment by government'". MaltaToday.com.mt.
  164. "Libyan embassy presents €10,000 to Mariam al Batool School". Times of Malta. 30 December 2010. Archived from the original on 3 March 2012.
  165. Allied Newspapers Ltd. "Muslim school gets Labour's support". Times of Malta.
  166. "A Muslim from Qormi - Mario Farrugia Borg". MaltaToday.com.mt.
  167. Christian Peregin (7 February 2011). "Muslim and former PN councillor converts . . . to Labour". TIMES OF MALTA. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
  168. "Muscat meets Muslim community at Castille". MaltaToday.com.mt.
  169. Martin Morana (2011). Bejn Kliem u Storja. p. 100.
  170. E Mazawi, André and Sultana, Ronald G. (eds.) (2010), World Yearbook of Education 2010: Education and the Arab 'World': Political Projects, Struggles and Geometries of power, p. 245.
  171. Cioffi, Yendrick (2014), "LOKALI Il-Komunità Musulmana tagħni lis-soċjetà Maltija - Simon Busuttil"
  172. Il-komunita musulmana f' Malta ticcelebra l-iftar mal-partit nazzjonalista.
  173. Vella Gauchi J (1991), Islamic Law and Mixed Marriages in Malta, London.
  174. "US News -Business Recorders". bizrecorders.com.
  175. "Il-Kuran qatt ma qalilna noqtlu lilna nfusna u lil ħaddieħor". MaltaToday.com.mt. Archived from the original on 19 November 2015. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  176. "Ecosprinter » An African diaspora: A look at the Marsa Open Centre for refugees fleeing conflict and famine". ecosprinter.eu.
  177. Yearbook of Muslims in Europe, Volume 4 p.391.
  178. Msida Local Council
  179. Allied Newspapers Ltd. "Mepa finally halts use of 'illegal mosque'". Times of Malta.
  180. Nielsen, Jørgen Schøler; Akgönül, Samim; Alibašić, Ahmet; Maréchal, Brigitte; Moe, Christian (2009). Yearbook of Muslims in Europe. p. 231. ISBN 978-9004175051.
  181. "Malta", state.gov, p. 1.
  182. "International Religious Freedom Report for 2011". State.gov. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  183. "OPM says there are no plans for a new mosque on AUM Marsascala campus, no request was made - The Malta Independent". Independent.com.mt. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  184. Marvin Formosa PhD. "SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT : AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF MALTA CAMPUS COTTONERA SITE" (PDF). Opm.gov.mt. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  185. Jørgen Nielsen, Samim Akgönül, Ahmet Alibašić, Egdunas Racius (eds.) (2013), Yearbook of Muslims in Europe, Volume 5, Brill Publishing, p. 431. ISBN 9789004255869.
  186. "Archbishop gives blessing to ecumenical house of worship". MaltaToday.com.mt.
  187. Allied Newspapers Ltd. "Plan to make Gozo a 'plateau of peace'". Times of Malta. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  188. Cauci Cunnigham, Albert (2015), "Il-pjanijiet għal moskea ġdida fit-tramuntana fil-‘friża’", Illum.
  189. "Security Services increasingly concerned by ISIS in Libya, Times of Malta, 2015.
  190. "Tħassib fuq is-sigurtà minħabba skola Iżlamika f'Malta". MaltaToday.com.mt.
  191. "Malta: Security concerns arise over local Madrassa". The Muslim Times.
  192. Camilleri, Silvio;Valenzia, Geoffrey; Caruana Demajo; Giannino (2011), "Qorti Kostituzzjonali", pp. 4-8.
  193. Ltd, Allied Newspapers. "Muslims gather again for prayers in Msida while search for premises continues". Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  194. Ltd, Allied Newspapers. "Drive-through Islam at Msida". Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  195. Ltd, Allied Newspapers. "Muslim congregation just wants permit for a stable place to pray". Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  196. "WATCH: Msida Muslims claim they are only praying and not inconveniencing anybody - TVM News". Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  197. "Muslim community calls on authorities to grant permits for places of worship". Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  198. "Regulated prayer rooms and preachers 'will eliminate possibility of extremism' - The Malta Independent". www.independent.com.mt. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  199. Ltd, Allied Newspapers. "Muslims given temporary use of Ospizio for Friday prayers - no further meetings at Msida". Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  200. Ltd, Allied Newspapers. "Times of Malta ‒ General, sporting, and business news for Malta and the surrounding region". www.timesofmalta.com. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  201. "Muslims are happy with the 'Ospizio' but they want more places for praying - TVM News". Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  202. "No prayers in Msida on Friday as government extends hand of cooperation to Muslims - The Malta Independent". www.independent.com.mt. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  203. "[WATCH] Muslim community 'happy' with temporary solution for Friday prayers". Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  204. "Islamic Centre apologises to those offended by Msida public prayers - TVM News". Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  205. Ltd, Allied Newspapers. "Muslims pray again on seafront". Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  206. "Malta" Archived 8 December 2015 at the Wayback Machine.
  207. "Online poll - 72% fear Malta could be threatened by ISIS". maltatoday.com.mt.
  208. Zammit Cordina, Mark (2013), "European Court blocks deportation of migrants - NGOs protest outside police HQ - PM to make statement". Times of Malta.
  209. "Can neutral Malta fend off foreign threats? - The Malta Independent". independent.com.mt.
  210. Allied Newspapers Ltd. "No Islamic extremists in Malta - Imam". Times of Malta.
  211. Camilleri, Neil (2015), "Imam does not exclude Muslims having sympathy towards extremists, but says no terrorists in Malta", The Malta Independent.
  212. "International terrorism: Malta's security apparatus inadequate". corpidelite.net.
  213. Dalli, Kim (2013), "Muslims in Malta need to ‘work hard at integration’", Times of Malta.
  214. Carabott, Sarah (2014), "'Muslims have a religious duty to love island'", Times of Malta.
  215. Vogel, Dita (2009). Stories and Reflections of Immigrant Activists in Europe. Peter Lang. pp. 29, 30. ISBN 9783631584224.
  216. "Malta's Muslim leaders condemn Paris attacks", Times of Malta, 2015.
  217. Dalli, Miriam (2015), "[WATCH] Maltese Muslim community protests terrorism, calls for unity", Malta Today.
  218. "Muslim community protests against terrorism - urges world action against IS" Times of Malta, 2015.
  219. "Muslim community in Malta condemns terrorism", China.org.cn, 2015.
  220. "Muslims in Malta protest against terrorism", tvm.com.mt, 2015.
  221. Neil Camilleri (7 August 2015). "Islamic Call Society asks government for help to find land for a new mosque and school - The Malta Independent". Independent.com.mt. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  222. Gary Armstrong; Jon P. Mitchell (31 March 2008). Global and Local Football: Politics and Europeanization on the Fringes of the EU. p. 67. Retrieved 13 June 2017.

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.