Mosquee Ali Betchin (Ali Betchin Mosque), Algiers

The Ali Betchin Mosque is a historic site in the heart of the Casbah of Algiers, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built in 1622 under the patronage of Ali Betchin, the mosque stands at the crossroads of Bab al-Wadi Street and the lower Casbah. This architectural gem is a testament to the Ottoman influence on Algerian culture and history.

The mosque was initially designed in the Ottoman architectural style, featuring a 15-meter-high Maghrebi-style minaret. Over the years, the mosque encompassed an area of 500 square meters, comprising three floors, three rooms, ten shops, a bakery, a hammam, a mill, and an inn. These amenities served not only the religious community but also prominent political and religious leaders who frequented the site.

The hammam gained widespread popularity and remained in operation until two years after the French occupation began. The mosque’s strategic location within the Casbah’s commercial district fostered economic activity, with numerous shops thriving around it. Briefly renamed "Sidi al-Mahdi Mosque" in 1703, the mosque reflected the influence of the ruling governor of that era.

During the French occupation, the Ketchaoua Mosque was transformed into a military pharmacy and later a church in 1843, resulting in significant alterations, including the reduction of the minaret’s height, changes to the mihrab, and the removal of the wudu area. A door was even repurposed as church decoration. After Algeria’s independence, the mosque was restored as an Islamic place of worship, with the Christian cross on the minaret removed, marking its return to its cultural and religious origins.

Today, the Ali Betchin Mosque stands as a powerful reminder of Algeria’s resilience and its layered history, offering insight into the rich architectural and cultural heritage of Algiers.