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Latest update: 16/09/2011
- France - Islam - religion
Former Paris firehouse becomes Muslim prayer hall
As a fiercely secular France grapples with religious issues, Interior Minister Claude Guéant has designated a vacant Paris firehouse to host Friday prayers—a stopgap measure to keep the city’s practicing Muslims from doing so in public.
By News Wires (text)
AP - For years, Muslims by the hundreds have unfurled rugs on the northern Paris sidewalks and put their foreheads to the ground for Friday prayers - for the simple reason that there’s not enough space inside.
Now, the interior minister has devised a stopgap solution: On Friday, a unused former fire station nearby will be outfitted to host two large prayer halls.
The move tackles one of France’s thorniest social dilemmas: How to integrate a large and expanding Muslim population that often feels alienated in a proudly secular country with deep Roman Catholic roots.
It also comes as the conservative and unpopular President Nicolas Sarkozy is looking at a potentially tough re-election bid next year. Sarkozy’s far-right flank has decried the sight of Muslim worshippers kneeling on the streets.
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Comments (3)
I fear for the future of
I fear for the future of France and Europe. Who are the polititians responsible for this? How could this happen in Europe? I am very very scared. May God help us.
freedom
I see this as an attack on the basic natural right that all humans have to freedom of religion.
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Well done Monsieur C.
Well done Monsieur C. Guéant!
The question about "space" was just a foolish excuse, because most of those people blocking roads came from outside.
Finally these disturbing, provocating and pure politically motivated so called "religious acts" come to an end and french roads belonging to France again!
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