Newly released documents from the Epstein case have revealed the purpose of a distinctive blue and white striped building on the financier's private island, Little Saint James. Correspondence shows that Jeffrey Epstein referred to the structure as a 'mosque' on multiple occasions, although its intended use changed over time, with earlier plans designating it as a music room, chapel, or pavilion.
Epstein, who identified as a secular Jew, expressed a desire for the building to look old and sought examples of mosque interiors. He corresponded with a contact in Uzbekistan about acquiring tiles with correct lettering to retain authenticity. The building is topped with a golden dome, but it remains unclear if it was ever used for Islamic worship.
The documents reveal Epstein's years-long obsession with Arabic and Muslim art and culture. In 2017, he met with an aide to a consultant for the Royal Court of Saudi Arabia to negotiate the shipment of items for the mosque, including pieces from the Kaaba in Mecca. One item was the Kiswa, the outer covering of the Kaaba, which holds enormous religious significance and is replaced annually at a cost of around $5 million.
Epstein's assistant told a customs broker that they were receiving three pieces from the Kaaba, with one having been used inside the structure. The aide described the black piece as having been touched by millions of Muslims, carrying their prayers and hopes. Epstein died in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
