Diyanet Center of America

Diyanet Center of America (DCA) is a non-profit organization based in Lanham, Maryland serving the needs of the Turkish American populace and Muslims in general in the Washington Metropolitan Area.^[1] The center holds regular Friday congregational prayers, Ramadan dinners, religious holiday celebrations (including Birth of Prophet Muhammad) and various other social, cultural, and religious activities.^[2]

The center benefits from its proximity to the nation's capital, various federal and state institutions, and schools.

The complex consists of five main buildings, an underground parking garage, and a geothermal well field on a 15-acre site. The five buildings are a mosque constructed using 16th century classical Ottoman architecture, a cultural center building, a guest house, a fellowship hall with a restaurant and shops, and a recreational building housing a Turkish bath, an indoor pool, and a sports center.^[3][4][5]

History

The organization was established as the Turkish American Islamic Foundation in 1993, and as the scope of services expanded it was renamed to the Turkish American Community Center (TACC) in 2003.^[6] Along with the completion of a comprehensive construction project, the center was renamed to its assumed business name of Diyanet Center of America, which receives major support from Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet), an institution of the Government of Turkey.^[7]

Affiliated mosques

• FCCC Murat Mosque, Upper Pittsgrove, NJ
• Turkish Islamic Cultural Center of Queens, Sunnyside, NY
• Karacay Moslem Mosque, Paterson, NJ
• TARF Springfield Imam Buhari Mosque, Indian Orchard, MA
• Eyüp Sultan Mosque, Brooklyn, NY
• Delaware Diyanet Camii, New Castle, DE
• Ahıska Turks Community Center of Kentucky, Louisville, KY
• New Jersey Burlington County Muslim Assosiation, Burlington, NJ
• TARF Bergen Diyanet Mosque and Cultural Center, Cliffside Park, NJ
• Turkish Society of Rochester Mosque, Rochester, NY
• Long Island Mevlana Mosque, Port Jefferson Station, NY

In the media

The local Muslim population was excited about plans to establish a new complex.^[8] However, the center also came to the attention of some anti-Islam factions and evangelist groups with opposition pages on their websites.^{[9][10][11][12][13][14]}

See also

• Assembly of Turkish American Associations

References

1. Organizations Representing Turkish Americans and the U.S.-Turkey Relationship in the U.S.
2. Our Services
3. "Turkish American Cultural and Civilization Center". transtech.org. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
4. "Turkish-American Community Center - Hassa Architecture". hassa.com. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
5. Preliminary Plan 4-10006
6. Turkish Coalition of America. "Directory by State". tc-america.org. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
7. About Us
8. [the local Muslim population was excited 'A Symbol of Friendship' : Turkish PM Lays Stone for $100M Masjid Complex In Maryland]
9. Turkey Stakes Claim in America With $100 Million Mega-Mosque
10. $100 million mega-mosque coming to this state
11. Maryland Blessed With $100 Million Turkish Mega-Mosque
12. Oh, MARYLAND! Turkish government has begun construction on a $100 million ‘mosquetrosity’ in Maryland
13. Muslims Begin Construction On $100 Million American Mosque
14. Barack Hussein Obama will join Turkish president Recep Erdogan at the opening of a new $100 million Turkish mega-mosquetrosity in Maryland

External links

• Diyanet Center of America official website