Catalonia: Mayor closes mosque for being too popular

Via Telegraph:

Angel Ros, the socialist mayor of Lleida, in the northeastern region of Catalonia, complained that the mosque was too full and closed it on Wednesday until further notice.

The building, a former garage used to service trucks, was often filled with crowds exceeding a thousand people, the council said, when the authorised limit for the venue is 240.

A new mosque is under construction on the outskirts of the town but work had been stalled because of a lack of financing during the economic crisis.

“The municipality has no obligation to provide places of worship,” Mr Ros said in response to complaints from the town’s Muslim population over the closure. “Those that wish can pray at home, as I do,” he added.

(more)

UK: Imams helping Muslim gays get religious recognition

Via BBC:

Some British Asian gay Muslims are embracing a new identity, based as much on race and religion as on sexual orientation with a number trying to do it with the help of their local imams.

When Khalid Habib decided it was time to come out about his sexuality, the first person he chose to confide in was not anyone in the family but his local imam.

“It was really important to me because I am a practising Muslim. It was about my personal relationship with Allah,” said the 35-year-old media professional from the north of England.

This article was prepared by the Islam in Europe blog – islamineurope.blogspot.com

“I sat in his sitting room struggling to get the words,” he said.

“I told him I have issues, but couldn’t bring myself to utter the words ‘with my sexuality’. We spent many hours sitting in silence,” he recalled

When Khalid finally told him, he was struck by the imam’s reaction.

“He was really honest. He told me that in his 25 years of experience as a leader in a British Muslim community, he had never thought about homosexuality in a practical sense.

“So, he had approached it in the textbook sense, preaching that it was immoral, wrong and ‘haram’ in Islam. But he had never looked at it in a human sense.”

(…)

Asif Qureshi, a key worker at The Naz Project, a London-based support group working with British Asian gay men said: “In my experience, the number of Asian gays coming out has almost tripled over the last three years.”

In fact, there is some evidence to suggest that those who dare to come out and seek long term same-sex relationships are sometimes not content with the idea of civil partnerships.

They desire religious recognition of their union, with some reportedly taking the daring step of entering into nikkahs (Muslim marriage contracts).

Mr Qureshi said he was aware of couples who had opted for such nikkahs but stressed that these were performed by imams in absolute secrecy.

Muslim gay activist Ibrahim Ismail has been working on sexual health issues for many years.

He said: “Some of their families and friends may even attend these nikkahs, but they would never publicly admit it for fear of being ostracised by mainstream Muslims.

Even though it is something entirely covert, the idea of Muslim gay marriages sheds light on the role some imams could be playing in helping people reconcile their sexuality and their faith.

As Khalid Habib said, when he came out to his imam three years ago, little did he know that this would be the beginning of a long process to come to terms with sometimes uncomfortable aspects of his faith.

He said, since then, he’s been engaged in an ongoing dialogue with three separate imams to discuss what Allah would have to say about various aspects of his lifestyle.

“It has been a difficult but a mutually rewarding process.

“At least I have found an imam who has agreed to perform my nikkah when I get married,” he said with a smile as he discussed his plans of having a traditional South Asian wedding one day.

(more)

Macedonia: Wahabists taking over mosques

Via EU Observer:

Western diplomats and religious experts have voiced concerns about the spread of radical Islam among Muslim communities in the Balkans, after it transpired that alleged Wahabist radicals are operating and increasing their influence in Macedonia.

The foreign-inspired religious group is active in the area around Skopje, Macedonia’s capital. It has tried to perform a putsch in the Islamic religious community (IRC) after an incident in the Isa-Bey Mosque in Skopje last week.

This article was prepared by the Islam in Europe blog – islamineurope.blogspot.com

The Isa-Bey Mosque has turned into a stronghold of radical Islam, Ibrahim Shabani, Skopje’s highest Islamic clergyman, recently warned. His accusations followed a fight during which Shabani was physically assaulted and expelled from the mosque while trying to hold prayer.

Ramadan Ramadani, the Imam of the Isa-Bey Mosque, rejected the claims that his mosque is the flagship of Wahabism – a branch of Sunni Islam which is the official religion in Saudi Arabia.

The head of the IRC, the Reis-ul-ulema Sulejman Rexhepim Rexhepi, had so far denied Macedonian mosques had been taken over by radical elements. But he has confirmed that information now.

“Wahabists control four mosques in Skopje. The Internal Affairs Ministry gives us only verbal support but rests passive,” he told the Albanian service of Radio Free Europe. He admitted the IRC had been trying to hide the Wahabi presence until now, hoping the radicals would withdraw and disappear again. “This didn’t happen and we are going to name them for what they are,” he said.

For his part, Mr Shabani also urged justice to deal with what he says is a radical Islamist group. “Last week’s coup was prepared by Islamic radicals operating in Skopje. This criminal Wahabist gang is known for its radical actions and harassment of Muslim believers. We will ask the competent authorities to stop these radical groups and bring them to justice. This was proof that Wahabist structures act against the Constitution of the Islamic Community, the rules of procedure and hierarchy,” he said.

(more)

Source: EU Observer

Copenhagen: Criticism of imam proposal to mediate in gang attacks

The Danish People’s Party (DPP) is demanding that the government intervene in the case of the Netto supermarket branch which had to close due to violence and threats against the employees. Sharp criticism of the mediation efforts between Netto, imams and gang leaders.

The DPP is demanding the government act, and asks Justice Minister Lars Barfoed (K) to intervene in the case of the Netto branch in Blågårdsgade in Nørrebro (Copenhagen), which had to close last week after violence and threats against the employees.

This article was prepared by the Islam in Europe blog – islamineurope.blogspot.com

“This is an appeal saying that it’s important that the government and the Copenhagen municipality will get their act together and do something about the troublemakers in Nørrebro,” says the justice and integration spokesperson Peter Skaarup, who wants more gang members in jail, better options for deporting criminal foreigners and better police efforts in Nørrebro.

“It is important that the police recaptures the area and show that they’re the ones who decide,” says Peter Skaarup.

He also lashed out at imam Abdul Wahid Pedersen, who proposed to mediate between Netto and immigrant groups in Nørrebro, with the informal gang leader “Little A” in the lead.

“For me it looks like a completely crazy idea, that imams and extreme groups will decide anything. It’s not their department and it should never be, either,” says Peter Skaarup.

Politicians in the Copenhagen municipality were also outraged at the imam’s attempt at mediation.

“It’s a dangerous development and deeply problematic to have religious people solve problems, and I don’t want to participate in Little A’s, Abdul Wahid’s or Jønke’s [Hell's Angels spokesman] media circus. They don’t contribute anything,” says Lars Aslam Rasmussen, a representative of the Social Democrats on the council.

He stresses that the perpetrators who caused fear among Netto’s employees are a hard core, which is not within educational reach.

“It’s the police, who will deal with them,” he says.

“I can’t understand that any special imam will get involved in this. Why would a religious man and a local gangster, who plays fandango in the area, solve a conflict,” Lars Berg Dueholm (Liberals) told Berlingske Tidende.

Manu Sareen, representative for the Social Liberals, called the mediation attempt a “difficult issue”.

“It’s always good when people sit down and want to solve problems on their own. But it’s not just any citizens involved in this conflict. I’m afraid it will send a signal to other people that “it’s us, who set the agenda, it’s us who decide’. We’ve unfortunately seen it before, when the youth began to search people in Nørrebro. It’s a slippery slope, which concerns me,” he says.

———–

Local in Nørrebro shake their head in response to the proposal to put the head of the Blågårds Plads gang in the position of peace broker in Nørrebro.

Resident spokesperson in Mjølnerparken, Mohammed Aslam, summarizes as such the proposal to position one of the gang conflict’s most central people – Little A. – as one who would try to bring peace and tolerance to Nørrebro.

“If ‘Little A’ now decided to lay down all crime and get a freshs start in life, then it’s good. But if that’s not the case, it seems very strange, that he would act in the role of peace broker,” says Mohammed Aslam.

In an interview to Politiken on Saturday, ‘Lille A’ said that he’s given the vandals order to act properly. At the same time Imam Abdul Wahid Pedersen suggests that ‘Lille A.’ (Abde Benarabe) will be involved in trying to bring calm to the Netto business.

Abde Benarabe has been charged in several crimes, including shooting in Christiania and an assault with a tuning fork. But he’s never been convicted of anything.

According to the police, Hells Angels had plans to kill Little A. when his big brother – ‘Big A.’ – was convicted for violence and extortion in the Copenhagen court last year. The murder attempt was frustrated when passer-bys acted.

Instead of including Benarabe in the negotiations about Nørrebro’s future well-being, the head of the Father’s Group in Nørrebro, Khalid Alsubeihi, suggests to establish a parents council who would advise disadvantaged families on their criminal children.

———–

Imam Abdul Wahid Pedersen wants to go forward with his proposal for a peace meeting between gang leader Abde Benarabe (Little A.) and Netto, the imam said after massive criticism of the proposal to put one of the most central figure in the Copenhagen gang conflict in the position of a peace broker in Nørrebro.

The meeting is supposed to stop further violence and harassment against the employees of the Netto shop in Blågårdsgade, but just the debate about the meeting has been good, says the imam.

“The purpose of all of this was just to get Netto to feel safe again and reopen the shop, which will all want,” says Wahid Pedersen.

“And Abde (Benarabe) clearly said that the community in the Blågårds Plads area support Netto, so in this way the debate about the meeting has been beneficial,” he says.

The row started more than a week ago, when a cashier presumed to close the cash register where some local youth stood in line, due to technical problems. They cashier was beaten up (see video here), and since then their colleagues had been harassed on the street.

Q: You have no problem at all about making a notorious gang leader into a peace broker in public?

“Now he’s certainly not convicted of anything, people should remember that. But my primary aim was something else, namely to get people around Blågårds Plads to show that they support Netto,” says Wahid Pedersen.

Q: And so you have no problem with giving a man, who’s associated with organized crime, the title of ‘peace prince’?

“It might be that such a title would contribute to obligating him. But again: my aim was to involve the community here and get the parties to talk, so we could all get Netto back in the area,” says Wahid Pedersen.

Netto the police and the municipality will meet on Tuesday to discuss the situation.

Source: Berlingske Tidende 1, 2, 3 (Danish)

Copenhagen: Mosque open house

Dialog between Danes and Muslims, that’s the goal of the Islamic Faith Society when they invite people to an open house in their mosque in Copenhagen next week, says spokesperson Bettina Meisner.

This article was prepared by the Islam in Europe blog – islamineurope.blogspot.com

“We have no requirement for people to become Muslim after participating in our event. We want to have a dialog with Danish society about what is Islam and show that it’s not a closed religion which oppresses women,” says Bettina Meisner.

She adds that 500-1000 visitors come when the faith-society organizes open house events.

“Those who come to the open house say that they get insight into the world of Muslim and disprove some prejudices. For example, many discover that the position of women in Islam is not oppressive to women, but that women have an important role in the Muslim world,” says Bettina Meisner.

Integration expert and member of the Copenhagen council Manu Sareen thinks that open house events in various faith-societies are important for integration.

“If there’s something we need in Denmark, it’s some platforms where people meet. There is so much separation between Danes and Muslims. We go round and think a lot about each other without really knowing each other. It’s much easier to be negative towards each other when you don’t have contact,” says Manu Sareen.

He thinks that people who participate in the open house event will either have their prejudices confirmed or disproved.

“The vast majority of Danes get their primary information about Muslims through the media, and it’s not a particularly flattering image, what’s shown. Instead the media contributes to creating a very negative discourse, which greatly affects the Danes. So I certainly welcome those open house events. There’s a need for that,” says Manu Sareen.

Source: Kristeligt Dagblad (Danish)

EU: Muslims go to mosque less often

The call to prayer reverberates off the walls in the Islamic Cultural Center in Madrid, Spain’s largest mosque. The sun sparkles on the white marble. On the roof a minaret sticks out into the blue sky like a needle.

Inside, about twenty men are bowing, thinly spread on the red carpet, praying. Behind a partition in the back of the large room, are several women with a hijab. In the front the imam leads the prayer. There are no young people.

This article was prepared by the Islam in Europe blog – islamineurope.blogspot.com

“Unfortunately there are too few youth who come here to pray,” says Mehmet Tarhan (59) before going out into the sunshine.

A few blocks away in the Ventas district, there’s a row of halal shops. Several signs are in Arabic. There we meet Ahmed El Madi (27) who works as a baker. He moved here from Morocco three years ago. In Morocco he went to the mosque regularly; in Spain he almost never goes.

“The most important thing is not how many times you go to the mosque or how many times you pray. The most important thing is that you be a human being,” he says.

He says many young people stopped going to the mosque after moving to Europe.

“The young aren’t as religious as the parent generation. I think however that some of the young people continue to believe, but they don’t practice their faith. The religion is also becoming more private,” he says.

The number of church-goers has dropped steadily for decades, but now there also a lot of space in mosques around Europe. Recent data from the extensive European Social Survey (ESS) show that the number of Muslim immigrants who regularly go to the mosque drops significantly after they’ve lived in their new homeland for some time.

The ESS figures, which are being published for the first time in Europe in Aftenposten, show that 60.5% of Muslims immigrants who have lived less than a year in Europe regularly go to the mosque. But after they’ve lived more than a year in their new homeland, the figure drops to 48.8%. More than half rarely or never go to the mosque to pray.

“In all European countries we see that Muslim immigrants are integrated and adapt to their new society. Part of that is that they become less religious and that they reject the traditional religious practice which their parents had in their homeland. They become more secular, says the famous Finnish religion-sociologist Heikki Ervasti from the University of Turku.

Ervasti, who analyzed the ESS figures, emphasizes that this development doesn’t happen quickly.

“This secularization process will take generations, and for the individual the changes aren’t as dramatic. Even it it doesn’t happen fast, it’s a clear trend,” says Ervasti, who says that this same development also occurs among immigrants of other faiths.

————

Lavapiés, one of Madrid’s most vibrant and trendy neighborhoods, is not far from the Islamic Cultural Center. Muslim Moors lived here until they were forced into exile or to convert in 1492, when the Moors were defeated by the Catholic Isabelle and Fredinand.

Then it was an industrial area for several hundred years. The neighborhood became very dilapidated, but a decade ago artists and immigrants began to move into the empty buildings.

There are people of all colors here: Africans, Turks, Chinese, Pakistanis, South-Americans, Indians and Spaniards. Restaurants serve food from all over the world, and there’s a cacophony of different musical styles. Halal butchers next door to Chinese dry-cleaners.

We meet the Dutch-Moroccan Sihan (28), who’s visiting her cousin Sihan (30) and her daughter Abier (3). They’re here to buy a hijab in an Egyptian shop which supposedly has the best veils in Madrid.

The 28 year old believes in Allah, but she doesn’t practice and doesn’t cover her hair.

“I believe in Allah and the Prophet, but I believe in my own way. I don’t pray five times a day, and I don’t go to the mosque,” she says.

Her cousin wears the hijab and she prays several times a day.

“I pray at home because it’s more practical. Unfortunately I rarely have the opportunity to go to the mosque,” says the 30 year old.

————

Religion researcher Heikki Ervasti points out that the secularization process among Muslim immigrants starts soon after they come to Europe, which he thinks is surprising.

“Already after a year in the new homeland, they’re clearly less religious. They become integrate into the way we live; they get more education and become more individualistic,” he explains.

He points out that the immigrants – like all others – look for more personal solutions to deal with everything that happens in life, and that this also applies to religion. In the countries they came from, religion is much more collective and unites people, but in Europe religion becomes very personal and private.

At the same time, there’s a trend that some Muslims become more religious.

“It slows the pace of the secularization process, and it occurs as a reaction to it. Some immigrants, and in particular those who don’t integrate, get irritated by the secularization. They’re more interested in emphasizing their culture and their religion.”

After immigrants have bee in Europe for five years, the drop in the number of mosque visits flattens out. Ervasti describes it as an aging effect.

“The immigrant who have a longer history in Europe are older on average. when people become older, they also become more religious. It’s well documented.”

————

A research report from Utrecht University shows that young Dutch Muslims are far less religious than their parents. They go less often to the mosque and they pray less, which the researchers think is because they grow up in a secular society. At the same time, a large majority in all age groups say they believe, but an increasing number among the youth say they don’t believe in any god at all.

Another large study by Statistics Netherlands (CBS) shows that more and more Dutch Muslims drop the mosque. The number of Muslims who go to the mosque at least once a month has dropped by 12% in the past decade – from 47% ten year ago to 35% today.

Last year, more than half of Dutch Muslims rarely or never went to the mosque to pray, while just a quarter went regularly. 34% of the men go every week, while just 14% of the women do so.

According to Jan Latten, population statistician for CBS and professor of demographics at the University of Amsterdam, the believers need institutions – like mosques – less than in the past.

“Religion is becoming more of a private issue. This is a general trend who is now also affecting the Muslim community,” he tells Aftenposten. Muslim Karima Kaouch (26) lived her whole life in the Netherlands. Her parents moved here from Morocco when she was little. She thinks the mosques are a ‘man thing’.

“Far more men than women go to the mosque. The mosques are a social gathering place for many men, and especially for elderly men,” she says and adjusts her hijab.

Kaouch says she feels completely Muslims, even though she doesn’t go as often to the mosque.

“You don’t need to go to the mosque to believe in Allah. I pray at home. That doesn’t make me any less Muslim.”

In Lavapiés in Madrid we meet Aish Aicha (34) and her son Bekir (4), hurrying down the street. Aicha just bought food and is going to prepare dinner. She says the same as the Dutch Kaouch.

“I pray, but I do it at home. I don’t practice my religion to exhibit myself. It’s a relationship between me and Allah,” the 34 year old says.

Source: Aftenposten (Norwegian)

Marseille: Work begins on Grand Mosque

French Muslims celebrated a milestone on Thursday when work began to build a Grand Mosque in Marseille, the country’s biggest and a potent symbol of Islam’s place in modern France.

A day after the French government approved a bill banning the full Islamic veil, Muslim leaders and local politicians hailed as “historic” the laying of the mosque’s cornerstone at a dusty construction site in northern Marseille.

France’s second city is home to 250,000 Muslims, many of whom flock to makeshift prayer houses in basements, rented rooms and dingy garages to worship.

With a minaret soaring 25 metres (82 feet) high, the Grand Mosque will hold up to 7,000 people in its prayer room and the complex will also boast a Koranic school, library, restaurant and tea room when it opens in 2012.

Muslims in Marseille have long campaigned for a mega-mosque as a prominent gathering place that would bring Islam out of the basements and allow it to thrive under the Mediterranean sun.

(more)

This article was prepared by the Islam in Europe blog – islamineurope.blogspot.com

Source: France24 (English)

Related articles:

* Marseilles: Grand Mosque plans
* Marseilles: Building of Great Mosque
* Marseille: Grand Mosque financed by Algeria
* Marseille: “I’m going to bomb it when it opens”

Austria: Imam conference calls for better understanding of Islam

The Third Conference for European Imams and Religious Advisers concluded Monday with a call for a better of understanding of Islam in order to defuse Islamophobia.

The final communique, read by head of the Authority of Muslim communities in Austria Anas Al-Shaqfa, called for addressing that problems that were really posing as a threat to Europe, pointing out that Europeans should not be fearing Islam and should concentrate on finding solutions for current economic problems which were sweeping Europe.

Gaining political grounds by using Islam as a target was a prejudice step, noted the closing statement, adding that such maneuvers were ignited right and extremist political parties for its own benefits.

The final communique called on Imams and religious advisers to spread the true message of Islam which called for co-existence with people of other faiths and religions, adding that Muslims in Europe should be working on the same page regarding shifting the image of Muslims there.

(more)

This article was prepared by the Islam in Europe blog – islamineurope.blogspot.com

Source: Eurasia Review (English)

Vienna: Imam conference criticizes veil bans

Muslims who attended a conference in Austria’s capital criticized European countries Sunday for considering the possibility of banning face-covering veils, saying it is counterproductive and regressive.

Veil bans are being considered in Belgium and France, and lawmakers in other European countries have also raised the issue.

The roughly 100 imams and Muslim religious advisers from 40 countries participating in the meeting in Vienna agreed that Islam doesn’t make it a requirement for women to wear face veils and saw little need to discuss it because of consensus on the matter, said Carla Amina Baghajati, a spokeswoman for the Islamic Religious Authority in Austria, which hosted the meeting.

“Nevertheless, we are critical that it comes to a ban,” Baghajati said. “Why? Because it’s counterproductive.” She was among about 30 women taking part in the meeting.

An extensive draft resolution presented at the end of the two-day conference called for programs to promote the education of Muslim girls and women and said every mosque should have a female contact person for women’s issues.

It also expressed concern about a Swiss referendum late last year to ban the construction of new minarets and stressed that the practicing of Islam encompasses the respect of people from other religions or who hold different world views.

“Muslims don’t want to be seen as a problem but rather as part of the solution for modern challenges,” the document said.

(more)

This article was prepared by the Islam in Europe blog – islamineurope.blogspot.com

Source: AP (English)

Netherlands: Dead sheep in protest of mosque

In related news, a gang of hooded thugs attacked a mosque in Renfew, Scotland by pelting it with eggs while prayers were ongoing inside. (h/t Islamophobia Watch)

In France, three tombs were desecrated (FR) with racist inscriptions in Vienne (Isère). The graffiti was aimed at the French Harki community.

Mohammed Moussaoui, head of the CFCM, said his organization “strongly condemns this new attack and expressed its complete incomprehension at this series of desecrations which sadden and hurt the Muslim community of France.”

Previously Muslim graves in Tarascon were toppled and smashed. The perpetrator was caught and according to the local prosecution, there was no racist motive. According to one news report, he’s apparently North-African.

———-

The chairman of the Moroccan mosque in Roosendaal responded in anger to the hanging of a dead sheep at the place where a new mosque is to be built.

Karim Ahlalouch says especially the first generation Moroccans were hit hard. He thinks it’s the latest proof that the Netherlands has become intolerant. “We’re slipping as a society,” he said Sunday.

Unknowns had hung a dead sheep at the demolition site at Burgemeester Schneiderlaan in Roosendaal, the police said Saturday. “No mosk” (no mosque) was painted in green on the fleece. According to the police. The police said that several people must have been involved in this operation, taking into account the position of the animal and its weight. The sheep was hung at a height of 4-5 meters, head down. The ship was fixed to a strap.

There are plans to build one of the biggest mosques in South-Netherlands at the site, 2200 sqm in area.

There were already previous incidents around the mosque, such as graffiti and arson. Ahlalouch says that particularly in the neighborhood there’s a lot of protest against the mosque. But he doesn’t suspect the neighbors of this deed. He is shocked though by the language he finds in the objections that were sent to the Council of State, in which the residents fight the mosque building.

This article was prepared by the Islam in Europe blog – islamineurope.blogspot.com

Source: Omroep Brabant (Dutch)