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“We, the mosque founders, are well known in the community with our moderate discourse,” said Sheikh
Al-Wanisi.
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By
Hadi Yahmid, IOL Correspondent
PARIS,
May 1, 2005 (IslamOnline.net) – Dealing a heavy blow to far-rightist
plaintiffs, a French court has ruled that Zaytouna mosque in
southeastern Paris was in no way disturbing public order.
“Ever
since its construction in October 2004, Zaytouna mosque has come under
a vicious campaign from far-rightists who filed a law suit to close
the place of worship on claims it disturbs public order,” Sheikh
Abdel Qader Al-Wanisi, the mosque rector, told IslamOnline.net on
Sunday, May 1.
Bagnolet
District Court has turned down the case, asserting that the French
Constitution and the 1905 secularism law protect the people’s right
to worship.
“We,
the mosque founders, are well known in the community with our moderate
discourse and unwavering support for tolerance and respect for the
other,” averred Sheikh Al-Wanisi.
With
Islamophobia on the rise in France, mosques are facing a wave of racist
attacks as well as the refusal of insurance companies to
provide services to the places of worship.
France
is home to around six million Muslims, the biggest Muslim minority in
Europe.
Community
Service
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Zaytouna mosque accommodates as many as 2000 worshiper.
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Sheikh
Al-Wanisi stressed that Zaytouna mosque, beside being a place of
worship, is also providing community services.
“The
mosque plays a pivotal role in scaling down the record crime rates in
the community, which is attested to by Bagnolet municipality,” he
added.
The
mosque is also playing another role as an educational institution with
five Arabic classes that cater for as many as 150 child, said Sheikh
Al-Wanisi.
Zaytouna
mosque accommodates as many as 2000 worshiper and is the only mosque,
compared to small prayer halls inside residential buildings, in the
neighborhood.
Sheikh
Al-Wanisi said the mosque, in view of its increasing contributions,
will field 15 representatives in the June election of the French
Council of the Muslim Faith (CFCM), the umbrella group representing
the country’s sizable minority.
According
to French Interior Ministry statistics, there are 1685 mosques and
prayer halls across the country.
On
March, 22, France's major Islamic groups and Interior Minister
Dominique de Villepin gave the go-ahead for establishing the
“Foundation for Islamic Works,” with the aim of financing the
construction of mosques and development of other Islamic activities in
the European country.
A
French book published last year highlighted the history of mosques in
France, particularly in the northern Alsace area.
Titled
“Histoires de Mosquees”, the
book takes the readers back to the early stage of construction
of mosques in France in 1960s with quotes from some Muslim figures in
the country.
