Place of worship for some, symbol of Islamization for others… the issue of the “great” mosque will remain on the table despite Christian Estrosi’s decision to go back on his “commitment” to the Muslim community. The latter speaks of “electoral promises without a future.” Nice Premium, faithful to its independence and participatory spirit, presents without comment the various viewpoints that, of course, oppose in every aspect.
Not taking sides does not prevent us from expressing our opinion on this very sensitive issue: what if we stopped this compulsive trend that makes us approach this problem through the lens of a pre-election poll?
Are there no other methods of wielding power than to set people against each other and always apply the “divide and rule”? Is there not the possibility of stopping this dangerous game that risks creating only losers?
Abderrazak FETNAN Municipal Councilor (PS-Changer d’Ere)
“Mosque: Christian ESTROSI goes back on his word”
Christian Estrosi has just made the decision not to facilitate the creation of a large mosque. Christian Estrosi’s various promises regarding a large place of worship were, in fact, nothing more than simple electoral promises without a future.
It is now a deep disappointment and profound bitterness that prevail. Through these statements, Christian Estrosi has admitted that for him, the Muslims of Nice will never be considered as fully-fledged Niçois.
The mayor does not shy from contradictions. He announces every day that he wishes to ban prayers in the street, but at the same time he refuses to facilitate the establishment of a large place of worship, which was the only guarantee to make these prayers disappear.
It is a huge responsibility because it signifies a return to Islam practiced in garages and basements, which the vast majority of Muslims do not want.
Muslims in Nice have always hoped to be seen and regarded like the others. To be part of the same entity, Nissa la Bella.
Today, even more than under Peyrat’s rule, Christian Estrosi has closed the doors of harmony, the doors of living together.
Nissa Rebela
“Estrosi backs down on the large mosque: an identity victory!”
The campaign on Muslim prayers blocking the rue de Suisse launched since February 10 by Nissa Rebela has just offered the identitarians a true victory. By reviving the debate, very annoying for the municipality, about the Islamization of our city and the construction of a new large mosque (demanded by Muslim representatives, notably through the politico-media tool of occupying public spaces with prayers), Nissa Rebela has just won an important battle for the future of our city.
Today’s article in the free daily 20 Minutes, entitled “Nice will not have a large mosque,” fully symbolizes this victory.
First, the identitarians have exposed to the public eye the reality of these Muslim prayers blocking the rue de Suisse. Once the information was launched on the internet (with a video viewed by over 12,000 people), neither the media nor the politicians could turn a blind eye anymore. The pressure put on this subject (which we do not plan to ease, as shown by our upcoming operation this Friday) has temporarily stopped this street occupation through an agreement between the town hall and the association managing the prayer room on rue de Suisse. For the second time this Friday, buses transported Muslims from rue de Suisse to the Madeleine Mosque (where there is obviously space!). Today it was even a close associate of Mr. Estrosi for security affairs, Robert Bojanovich, who came to verify on the spot (we were also there) that the Muslims were honoring their part of the “deal.” But we know that this agreement – in an entirely cynical and scandalous manner – is only valid for the pre-election period, and it is out of the question that we let a situation that can obviously be resolved reestablish itself with the return of these street prayers after the cantonal elections.
By reigniting the question of the “large mosque,” Nissa Rebela has exposed in the media (with a more than eloquent photo today in the 20 Minutes article) another hidden truth that we have been denouncing since November 2009: a large mosque already exists in Nice! It is the Ar-Rahma Mosque in Ariane, which can accommodate 800 people.
Therefore, it is clear that what Muslim institutions are demanding is not simply a mosque that is large in size but rather one that is large in symbolism. An imposing, central site, which one imagines to be as visible as possible, therefore certainly equipped with a minaret, and marking in a definitive manner the implantation of Islam in our city.
Finally, due to constant pressure, backed – and Christian Estrosi knows well – by genuine popular support on this issue, against the construction of a new large mosque, Nissa Rebela has made Christian Estrosi back down. He who had often proclaimed since 2006 (and we had already demonstrated in front of the General Council at that time) his support for the construction of a large mosque, is today sidestepping the issue, and this solution no longer seems favorable to him.
It is a true and beautiful victory today, but we have been too accustomed, for years, to seeing Christian Estrosi make and contradict his promises according to electoral contingencies, so we remain cautious about the future. We invite all Islamo-watchers and Estro-watchers to come celebrate this victory with us at the apéro-porchetta (to which we will add some champagne!) that we are organizing on Friday, March 4, at 6:30 pm on rue de Suisse.
