Source: The Daily Star

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=4&article_id=11799

On January 14, 2005 The Daily Star reported, "[A] new mosque designed by Portoghesi is to be built in Strasbourg, France. It has unleashed a fresh round of controversy, drawing politicians into heated public debate. This time, Portoghesi - who beat such competitors as Zaha Hadid and Mario Botta when he won the international competition in 2000 - has wisely delegated the politicking to his French contacts, and is quietly following the project from his office in Italy...Portoghesi's initial project was approved by the city's socialist mayor and was to occupy 5,000 square meters, with a 28-meter-high minaret and a cost of some 17 million euros."