The news certainly delighted the many faithful who were gathered this morning—Friday, the day of prayer—in the premises of En Nour, on Pontremoli Street, which have become the symbol of the “struggle” between the mayor of Nice and this religious association.
The story is long and somewhat complex and has been recounted on several occasions: in summary, it is a power struggle between Christian Estrosi and the leaders of En Nour, which has been fueled over time by several episodes of an administrative nature.
In fact, the mayor of Nice does not tolerate this association organizing and developing its activities outside a framework agreed upon with him—in contrast to how other Muslim religious associations operate.
Consistently, after having thwarted the prefectural authorizations, he has tried to expropriate this place to designate it for other public activities (nursery, then co-working space), accused the association of radical propaganda, and then of illicit financing.
To avoid any criticism of preventing the Muslim population from practicing their faith, he granted a plot of land—not far from the contested one on Pontrémoli Street—to an association constituted ad hoc (La Fraternité) by his trusted interlocutors who are part of the interfaith association Alpes-Maritimes Fraternité.
The closure of the investigation—pending verification of probable administrative irregularities*—marks a final point to a situation that should never have gained the importance it was given and this notoriety?
The public prosecutor, Jean-Michel Prête, officially declared
that the investigation° entrusted to the economic and financial division of the judicial police was complemented by TRACFIN investigations and there is no characterized criminal offense, both during the purchase of the premises by a Saudi minister and during the work, for an amount of 760,000 euros.
The Mayor of Nice reacted by reaffirming, “that it is unacceptable in our country for a place of worship to be owned by a foreign power that does not respect the values of the French Republic”—thereby explicitly alluding to the Saudi owner of the place who is or was the Minister of Worship of Saudi Arabia.
A statement that deserves to be better explained to understand the mix-up between a private property given to an association—also duly registered—the Saudi monarchy (“foreign power”) which is recognized by France with which it maintains diplomatic relations (and many others!), and the non-respect of “the values of the French Republic”—without further specifying the acts and grievances that would justify this serious accusation.
“That is why I will, in a few days, sign a lease with the association ‘Centre Cultuel des Musulmans de Nice – La Fraternité’ which is recognized by the prefectural authority for its religious character under the law of 1905, and which respects the conditions set at the time by Prefect Colrat for the opening of a place of worship, namely, I recall, the absence of influence by a foreign state, collegiality in governance, and adherence to republican principles,” communicated the mayor of Nice.
One can only agree with this decision which will put an end to this “petty quarrel”: each will have their place to exercise their influence and spread their good word to the faithful.
Can we hope that each association will set aside rivalries and interests—and yes, they do exist—that have marred this issue?
