Is it truly that simple to open a mosque? Apparently not, especially here at Association mosqu\u00e9e de Montrouge. This house of prayer has faced quite a journey. Let’s delve into its story.
Association mosqu\u00e9e de Montrouge, a place of worship for the Muslim community in Montrouge near Paris. Its story is one of faith and perseverance but also of legal and local hurdles.
Back in 2005, the Association Fraternit\u00e9 Montrouge purchased a building. It was intended to be a place of prayer. The building, a former garage of just 57 square meters, located at 11 rue Auber. The association Fraternit\u00e9 Montrouge “did not think that it would be so complicated to open a mosque”.
However, things soon became difficult. To convert a commercial space into a place of worship requires the consent of the co-owners of the building. This consent was repeatedly denied.
This led to a series of challenges for the Association mosqu\u00e9e de Montrouge. The mayor issued an order in February 2013. It prohibited the mosque from opening to the public. Representatives of the mosque protested this decision. They saw it as discriminatory.
The association who manages Association mosqu\u00e9e de Montrouge harshly criticized the municipal team. They cited discrimination, abuse of power, and bad faith.
The mayor’s decision seemed lawful. The small Association mosqu\u00e9e de Montrouge faced hostility from neighbors. These neighbors never authorized opening a public space on their property.
Adding to the difficulties, legal issues arose. The building was technically not compliant with regulations. Despite these challenges, the Association mosqu\u00e9e de Montrouge continued to operate.
On the internet, mobilization was organized. A demonstration was planned with the slogan “Hands off my mosque”. Representatives of the mosque even prepared a complaint in court. They alleged abuse of power against the town’s mayor.
Nabil Ennasri, president of the Collectif des Musulmans de France, supported the mosque. He expressed outrage. He said it was a complete denial from an elected official to allow Muslims to practice their religion.
The building had been a garage until then. To transform a commercial space into a place of worship requires agreement from the other co-owners. The new owners never obtained this agreement despite repeated attempts.
This was a blow to the new owners of the garage. They had never imagined that the co-owners would block their mosque project. They invested 200,000 euros.
Amine Brahmi, a representative of the place of worship, expressed his distress. He regretted that the purchase of the building had been made by elders who had not grasped the complexity of opening a mosque.
The mayor cited the lack of authorization from the co-owners. Religious representatives were at odds with their co-owners. The co-owners had reportedly forbidden access to the courtyard and mailboxes. In retaliation, the association refused to pay building charges.
A neighbor complained about excessive noise. He mentioned street prayers on the sidewalk.
Despite being partly illegal, nothing had disrupted its operation since its opening in 2005. In 2007, the mayor had already issued an order requesting its closure. However, the Pr\u00e9fet des Hauts-de-Seine never executed it.
Then, in 2008, the mayor initiated a lawsuit. The lawsuit was for construction work without a permit. It was also for opening a public place without declaration and non-compliance with safety standards. The mosque was convicted but “exempted from punishment”.
The mosque navigated a paradoxical legal situation. It was recognized as illegal but without having to answer for it.
According to Nabil Ennasri, it was simply Islamophobia. He said that the mayor uses all legal devices. He drags his feet so that Muslims do not have the possibility of exercising their rights.
Today, Association mosqu\u00e9e de Montrouge stands as a testament to the challenges. It also shows the resilience of a community striving to practice its faith.