Cologne Central Mosque

This guide to Cologne Central Mosque follows the fight to build it on Venloer Strasse, funded almost entirely by ordinary Muslims: eight hundred eighty-four associations across Germany pooling small donations, alongside loans and a surprising fundraising push from the Catholic parish up the road. It traces architect Paul Boehm's decision to make the ground floor pay for itself, with a bazaar, restaurant and shops open to anyone. At the center of it all sits a dispute with politicians over the twin minarets and how loudly they would be allowed to call the faithful to prayer.