Epstein’s Private Island Mosque Was Decked Out with Sacred Mecca Relics

Jeffrey Epstein’s private island, Little Saint James, was home not just to his grotesque abuses but also to a mysterious blue and white striped building he called a “mosque.” New documents from the Epstein files show Epstein’s years-long fixation on Arabic and Muslim art and culture, culminating in his acquisition of sacred Islamic artifacts for this unusual structure.

Correspondence uncovered in the files reveals Epstein’s shifting plans for the building, which was variously described as a music room, chapel, pavilion, and ultimately a mosque topped with a golden dome. Epstein sought authentic Middle Eastern tiles and architectural details, even consulting contacts in Uzbekistan to ensure the lettering and design were accurate.

More chillingly, Epstein used his vast wealth and connections to obtain highly significant religious items from Mecca’s Kaaba, the holiest site in Islam. His assistant’s communications with customs brokers confirm that three pieces from the Kaaba were shipped to the island. One item had been “used inside the Kaaba,” while another was the Kiswa—the ornate black silk and gold covering of the Kaaba, replaced annually in a royal workshop and costing millions.

Aziza Al Ahmadi, an aide linked to the Saudi Royal Court, explained in an email to Epstein the profound spiritual importance of the Kiswa fragment: it had been touched by at least 10 million Muslims during their pilgrimage rituals, who pressed their prayers, tears, and hopes onto the cloth. This is not just decoration; it is a sacred relic imbued with deep religious significance.

Epstein’s interest in Islamic culture extended beyond the mosque. In 2009, while jailed in Florida, he commissioned plans for a lavish Turkish bathhouse and spa on the island, complete with hammam baths and massage parlors. Photos also show Epstein with Emirati Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem inspecting elaborate tapestries, highlighting Epstein’s network of powerful Middle Eastern contacts—many of whom later faced their own scandals linked to Epstein.

The files expose a disturbing layer of Epstein’s life: his manipulation of religious symbolism and artifacts to perhaps cloak or legitimize his private island’s horrors. While Epstein identified as a secular Jew, his obsession with Muslim art and sacred objects raises unsettling questions about the true purpose of the mosque and the extent of his global connections.

Epstein died in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. The revelations about his island’s mosque add another grim chapter to the ongoing fight to understand and expose the full scope of his crimes and enablers.