Jeffrey Epstein (AP Photo)
Disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein spent years building relationships across the Middle East while also acquiring rare Islamic artifacts for an unusual building on his private Caribbean island.
According to the New York Times, this was revealed in millions of pages published by the US Department of Justice in January of this year. The documents show how Epstein focused on Islamic art and architecture, establishing relationships with wealthy and powerful figures in the region.
Rare artifacts from sacred and historical places
According to records, Epstein obtained highly important religious and cultural items, including tapestries embroidered with Quranic verses shipped from the Kaaba in Mecca, the holiest site in Islam.Other items included tiles sourced from a mosque in Uzbekistan and a gold-domed structure designed to mimic architectural styles from ancient Syria, the New York Times reported. One document describes how Epstein received three items associated with the Kaaba, including parts of the kiswa, the black cloth that covers the Haram al-Sharif and is replaced annually.The kiswa is produced in a royal workshop in Saudi Arabia using thousands of pounds of silk and gold and silver threads.
After replacement, parts of the cloth are sometimes distributed to institutions or individuals.
A “mosque” on Epstein’s private island
The materials were for a distinctive blue-and-white-striped building topped with a gold dome on Epstein’s private island, Little St. James.Over the years, the building has been described in various ways including a music room, pavilion, chapel or even a mysterious space. However, correspondence and interviews cited in the documents indicate that Epstein repeatedly referred to it as a “mosque.”For Epstein, the building was not intended to be a place of worship, but rather an architectural and artistic project inspired by Islamic design.One of the artists involved in the project confirmed in an interview that Epstein regularly called the structure his “mosque,” according to The New York Times.
Design plans and symbolism
Records show Epstein’s strong interest in Islamic architecture, including references to historical structures in the Middle East such as baths and mosques.In emails, he instructed collaborators to design interiors inspired by traditional Islamic patterns, and even suggested replacing Arabic religious inscriptions with his initials.He also ordered original tiles from Uzbekistan and shared architectural references from Syria as inspiration for the building’s design.Records show that Epstein met with individuals associated with the Saudi royal court and sought consulting opportunities related to Saudi economic reforms and the planned listing of state-owned oil company Aramco.
Relics from the Kaaba
The documents detail shipments of religious artifacts from Saudi Arabia, including textiles and ceremonial objects associated with the Kaaba.One email described the cultural and spiritual significance of a black cloth from the shrine, highlighting that millions of pilgrims have touched it during religious rituals.
Decline and recent years
Records also show that Epstein Island sustained damage during Hurricane Maria in 2017, affecting portions of the so-called “mosque” structure and its contents.During the same period, Epstein’s relationship with some of his international contacts deteriorated as political developments in Saudi Arabia shifted.Epstein was later arrested in 2019 on federal sex trafficking charges.Shortly after his detention, Epstein transferred ownership of his island to a private trust. He was later found dead in a Manhattan jail cell in August 2019 while awaiting trial.
