Havana, April 28 (RHC) – The Cuban government has reportedly approved plans for the construction of the country’s first mosque -- a courtesy of the Turkish government.

The mosque project has been approved following last week's visit to the Caribbean island nation by a delegation of Turkey's Religious Affairs Foundation, according to Yuksel Sezgin, press adviser for the Turkish religious organization.

Designed after the famous Ortakoy mosque in Istanbul, the mosque will serve the city's 3,500 Muslims and its construction is scheduled to be completed within one year.

According to the plan, the Havana mosque will be 32,300 square feet with a capacity for 500 people. Land for the mosque has already been allocated in the city's Old Havana district.

According to TDV officials, the 19th century design of Ortakoy mosque was suggested to fit in nicely with the architecture of the surrounding area.

With no mosque currently available, most Cuban Muslims pray in their homes or in other places provided by community leaders.