UN-Habitat: Herat Jami Mosque Symbol of Afghanistan’s Heritage

DID Press: UN-Habitat has highlighted Herat Grand Jami Mosque (Masjid-i Jāmi) as one of the most magnificent and valuable Islamic monuments in Afghanistan and Central Asia, emphasizing the urgent need for its preservation.

Built over 800 years ago, the mosque is celebrated as Afghanistan’s most breathtaking Islamic structure and holds a central place in the region’s cultural heritage. It represents not only Islamic architectural excellence but also a core element of Herat’s urban identity.

The UN agency stressed that safeguarding historic monuments like the Herat Jami Mosque plays a crucial role in preserving a city’s identity, history, and civic pride, while also fostering connections between future generations and their cultural past. Preservation efforts, UN-Habitat notes, can further support sustainable urban development, cultural tourism, and social cohesion in historic cities.