The majority of the population disagree with the city s decision to support the construction of a local mosque with a significant amount of money, a recent survey found. The prefect is seeking legal action to prevent the building of a Muslim place of worship using taxpayers money. In the meantime, the Islamist organisation in question issued a statement to affirm that it is not under foreign influence.

A recent decision by Strasbourg s Green Party leaders to commit over 2,5 million euros to the construction of Europe s largest mosque has triggered some strong reactions. The move was condemned by many, including Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, who described spending public money on promoting foreign influence as unacceptable, all the more so because the mosque will be run by Milli Gorus, a Turkish Islamist organisation which refused to sign a government-sponsored charter that places the values of the French Republic above Islamic laws. 

As city leaders have failed to reach an accord with the prefect and the municipality refuses to withdraw its financial support, local police chief Josiane Chevalier announced that he will initiate legal action. Mr Chevalier is set to seek the annulment of building Europe s largest mosque on French taxpayers  money at the administrative court, the local news outlet L Alsace reports.

In order to clarify disputes over subsidies for the mosque project, three Islamic organisations belonging to Milli Gorus held a press briefing and issued a statement to affirm that they respect the principles of the French Republic and secularism, and that Muslim religious life takes place within the framework of the French constitution and society.  The three organisations stated that Muslims living in France are guaranteed the possibility of practicing their religion freely and exercising their rights as citizens. In addition,  they also ensure the coexistence of different religions and cultures, as well as seek to reinforce national unity and fight against all forms of hatred and violence.

The signatories of the document also reject the use of Islam for political purposes and the dissemination of political doctrines in mosques. They further stated that both their mosques and their imams are free from any foreign influence.

The French government, however, believes that the activities of the Milli Gorus organisation are contrary to the values of the French Republic, government spokesman Gabriel Attal said last week. Eyup Sahin, the leader of the mosque under construction, has dismissed the French government s accusations as unfounded. He denied all accusations of separatism and said such opinions were unworthy of a state as great as France.

The French population is also opposed to financing the construction of a huge mosque from public funds. A survey conducted by the French polling company Ifop revealed that an overwhelming majority of French people (85%) oppose any financial support to the mosque by Strasbourg City Hall, with 81 per cent of the residents of Alsace and Moselle départements sharing the same view.

The survey also shows that only 30 per cent of two départements residents support devoting financial resources for the construction of the mosque, whereas the same figure is much higher in case of other religions. 65 per cent of respondents agree with providing state funding for Catholic churches, followed by the Orthodox Church with 48%, Lutherans with 47%, Jews with 44%, and the Reformed Church and Buddhists with 43% each. It appears that Islam comes in last in terms of popularity and support, France Bleu writes.

The survey also gauged poeple s views on the Alsace-Moselle Concordat, which sets out that Catholic, Lutheran, Reformed and Israelite pastors must receive their salaries from the state. 78 per cent of respondents said they would put an end to this practice, with 52 per cent of the two départements  residents sharing the same view.