For the first time in Dutch history, a house of prayer is being put up for auction because of a financial conflict. The Amersfoort Rahman mosque might be put up for auction, and if it goes through it will be the first time that a functioning house of prayer will be forced to be sold off publicly.
The reason for the approaching sale is a financial conflict which has been dragging on between the Amsterdam housing association Stadgenoot (formerly Het Oosten) and the Manderen investment firm. Stadgenoot says Manderen, which is linked to the Turkish mosque association Milli Görüs, owes them 6 million euros. According to Fatih Dag of Manderen, the outstanding debt of 4.5 million euro has already been collected by the court. Stadgenoot now intends to collects its debts from Manderen by foreclosure sale.
Trouw reports that the ongoing affair began in 1994 when the housing association and Manderen were going to build a complex together which would include a large mosque. In 2000 the agreement was finalized and the first stone laid in 2006. However, since then the construction has not advanced and relations between the organizations have stagnated.
