In the draft resolutions that will be presented to the City Council on Friday, October 11, the Mayor of Nice will propose a request to open a public utility and land investigation with a view to creating an early childhood facility at Iscles de Sainte-Marguerite. The Mayor of Nice believes he has thus found a way to oppose the establishment of a Muslim place of worship located within the Nice Méridia perimeter.
The reality is that the Mayor of Nice does not want a mosque, period. Surrounded by a committee composed of representatives of the Muslim faith, the UMP deputy mayor of Nice believes that this future place of worship was not in line with his flagship “Eco-Vallée” project intended to attract companies to the plain adjoining the Var river at the western end of the city.
Of course, by doing so, he conflates economic activity with places of worship and ignores the aspirations of Muslims and some of their associations residing in his city. The future prayer hall “Ennour” in the Plaine du Var was supposed to allow Muslim citizens to pray with individual and collective dignity. Muslim dignitaries regularly remind us of the acute lack of cultural spaces.
Beyond the reasons that one could discuss endlessly without reaching any conclusion, the choice seems quite clear: Between a population that is not frankly pro-Muslim, voting to the right or even the far right, and those of North African origin who are more electorally left-oriented, pragmatism tips the balance toward a more particular interest. Logical, right? Aren’t we entering an election campaign?
Patrick Allemand, on behalf of the socialist opposition, did not hesitate to denounce this position: “With this deliberate political stance, the Mayor of Nice takes responsibility for fostering the development of radical Islam, which builds on resentment. He seeks confrontation, provocation, exasperation, as with the Roma. In fact, he is the best ally of ‘basement Islam’, street prayers, and radicalization, which ultimately leads to hatred. On the contrary, Nice needs a peaceful relationship among its inhabitants to build a serene and ambitious future together.”
For Abderrazak Fetnan, a socialist opposition councilor: “By once again opposing the installation of a Muslim place of worship other than in the eastern neighborhoods of the city, Mr. Estrosi is choosing street prayers in Nice. Who benefits from the crime?”
This second request for a Public Utility investigation, following the request regarding the Gambetta place of worship in June 2012, sheds new light on Mr. Estrosi’s statements, which declared a few weeks ago that “Islam is incompatible with democracy.”
Will this resolution be seen by our Muslim fellow citizens as yet another humiliation and the ultimate provocation?
Other voices have risen against this perspective, including that of Emmanuelle Gaziello (FdG/PC):
“The instrumentalization of religions and public authority in the service of a particular electoral interest is here demonstrated, as we still do not see how the ‘upcoming urban transformations’ creating needs for early childhood facilities can, in the general interest, take precedence over urgent present needs, for which 200 children, according to the City of Nice itself, are waiting in already established neighborhoods.
Solutions exist, for example, canceling certain auctions of communal properties, particularly the sale of the commercial premises at 277/279 avenue Sainte Marguerite (Nice La Plaine I, with a surface of 1575m² of modular office spaces, including 42 rooftop parking spaces).”
