Epstein Obtained Objects From Islam’s Holiest Site for His Island ‘Mosque’

THE NEW YORK TIMES: Jeffrey Epstein’s messages cast light on an unusual building on his private island and show how his connections helped him secure tapestries from Mecca for it.

Screenshot from this NYT article. | A photo released by the House Oversight Committee showed a building once owned by Jeffrey Epstein on Little Saint James, his private island in the Caribbean. He referred to it as a mosque. | Credits: Unavailable
Tapestries embroidered with Quranic verses were shipped from the Kaaba in Mecca, Islam’s holiest shrine. Tiles came from a mosque in Uzbekistan. A golden metal dome was made to replicate the architecture of ancient Syria.

Jeffrey Epstein spent years making connections across the Middle East, in pursuit of business deals and two intertwined hobbies: acquiring rare Islamic artifacts with which to decorate an unusual building on his private island, and expanding his network of wealthy, powerful people.

Through connections that extended into the royal court of Saudi Arabia, Mr. Epstein secured a meeting with Mohammed bin Salman, now the Saudi crown prince, and also obtained elaborate tapestries that once adorned the sacred spaces inside the Kaaba and covered its exterior walls. » | Ephrat Livni | Wednesday, April 29, 2026