Disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein has spent years building connections across the Middle East while also acquiring rare Islamic artifacts for an unusual building he is building on a private Caribbean island. This was revealed in millions of pages of documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice in January, the New York Times reported. The documents show how Epstein focused on Islamic art and architecture as he developed relationships with wealthy and powerful figures in the region.
Rare artifacts from sacred sites and historic sites
According to records, Epstein obtained very important religious and cultural items, including a tapestry embroidered with Quranic verses that was shipped from the Kaaba in Mecca, Islam’s holiest site.Other items include tiles from a mosque in Uzbekistan and a golden domed structure designed to replicate ancient Syrian architecture, the New York Times reported. One document describes how Epstein received three items related to the Kaaba, including parts of the Kiswa, the black cloth that covers the shrine and is replaced every year.Kiswa is made in royal workshops in Saudi Arabia using thousands of pounds of silk and gold and silver thread. After replacement, portions of the cloth are sometimes distributed to institutions or individuals.
The ‘mosque’ on Epstein’s private island
The materials were designed for a distinctive blue-and-white-striped building topped by a gold dome on Epstein’s private island, Little St. James.The building has been described variously over the years, including a music room, a pavilion, a chapel and even a mysterious space. However, letters and interviews cited in the documents show that Epstein repeatedly referred to it as a “mosque.”For Epstein, the building was not intended as a functional place of worship but as an architectural and artistic project inspired by Islamic design.An artist working on the project confirmed in an interview that Epstein often referred to the building as his “mosque,” The New York Times reported.
Design scheme and symbolism
The records reveal Epstein’s keen interest in Islamic architecture, including references to historic Middle Eastern structures such as bathhouses and mosques.In emails, he instructed his collaborators to design the interiors inspired by traditional Islamic patterns, even suggesting replacing Arabic religious inscriptions with his own initials.He also requested the use of authentic tiles from Uzbekistan and shared architectural references from Syria as design inspiration for the building.Records show Epstein met with people associated with the Saudi royal family and sought consulting opportunities related to Saudi economic reforms and plans to take state oil company Aramco public.
Artifacts from the Kaaba
The documents detail religious artifacts brought from Saudi Arabia, including textiles and ceremonial items related to the Kaaba.An email described the cultural and spiritual significance of the shrine’s black cloth, highlighting that millions of pilgrims touch it during religious ceremonies.
Decline and final years
Records also show that Epstein’s island suffered damage during Hurricane Maria in 2017, affecting parts of the so-called “mosque” structure and its contents.During the same period, Epstein’s relations with some of his international contacts deteriorated as the political situation in Saudi Arabia changed.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 found dead in his Manhattan jail cell in August 2019 while awaiting trial.
