The “governmental” left-wing parties (see below) oppose this decision by the Town Hall, which once again revives the issue of the practice of worship by Muslims. To resolve the question of Muslim worship by giving it the place it deserves in our city. It is also a symbol of recognition against all forms of homophobia.
By persisting in the sole strategy of obstruction, there is a risk of continuing to fragment Muslim worship and condemning it to practice in unsuitable places.
Worse, it fosters resentment within the Muslim community and risks creating a tense situation.
But faced with this obvious difficulty of municipal authorities making a decision, why not ask the Alpes-Maritimes Fraternity association, which the Mayor of Nice often cites as a fine example of ecumenism, to reflect on the issue and propose a solution that takes into account the interests and aspirations of all?
We must know how to unite, rather than oppose one another.
Statement from EEV-Les Verts
The closure, and the manner of proceeding, are unacceptable.
Consultation must take place to finally resolve these
too frequent problems in our city, at the level of the
Nice commune, and in a satisfactory manner for all.
Moreover, the electoral promises of the municipal team in
place, made more than four years ago during the 2008 municipal campaign, regarding the practice of Muslim worship must be fulfilled. Although they are still not fulfilled, despite their normal, common sense, and soothing nature.
Our open and democratic societies must learn to
accept definitively the normal expression, in mutual respect,
of different religions (or non-belief).
The city of Nice, the fifth largest city in France, has residents of a
great diversity of origins and religions. Yet among our
fellow citizens, only Muslims, although numerically the second largest religion in France, do not have a spiritual and cultural infrastructure worthy of the name, unlike the first four cities.
We therefore call for this comprehensive consultation to be initiated
quickly in the interest of all.
Statement from the Socialist Party
The chibanis (elderly immigrants) of the Riquier immigrant workers’ hostel have just learned this news with astonishment. These elderly immigrant workers, settled there since the 1960s, will no longer have access to their prayer room located in the hostel. To pray, they must now go to Ariane where the nearest room is located.
After the decision of the Mayor of Nice to close the Gambetta prayer room and to preempt a space at Las Planas, this closure is still experienced as discrimination by the Muslim residents of Nice.
Since the 2000s, mayors have come and gone, and the question of the place of Islam in the city of Nice remains unanswered.
That is why we are calling on the Prefect of Alpes-Maritimes and the Mayor of Nice to tackle this issue and to organize a round table on the right to access Muslim worship without further delay.
This round table could also be an opportunity to address the issue of integration and incorporation of immigrant populations. Indeed, they feel discriminated not only in access to worship but also in access to employment and housing.
