This Saturday, June 29, 2024, the great mosque of Perpignan opened its doors to everyone. A way to recall the importance of living together and the place of the Muslim community in society.
“This day is used to bring Muslims and non-Muslims together, to discover the Grand Mosque from the inside and not as it is presented in the media or on social networks.”explains Hakim Bedda, from the Fraternité collective, which is helping to organize the open day at the great mosque of Perpignan. This Saturday, June 29, saw the 4th edition of the event, during which visits to the place of worship were organized. Registration stands for Arabic courses that welcome 350 students each year and games for children were also on the program. As was the traditional fraternity tea offered to all visitors.
“It’s a day to get together, a friendly moment. Earlier, I spoke with a gentleman who is not of the Muslim faith, he was very happy to have come. It’s a moment to mingle and meet each other and the children are having a lot of fun, it’s nice to see.”rejoices Zayneb.
The event fell on the eve of the vote for the legislative elections, this Sunday, June 30: “Normally, it’s true that we do this day on Sunday. But here we preferred to do it on Saturday, so that everyone can have peace of mind to be able to go and vote on Sunday”explained Judge Bedda.
If this open day has no political vocation, other than to recall the importance of living together, inevitably, the electoral deadline, and its possible consequences are not forgotten: “On the eve of the election, the Muslim component does not remain without concern regarding the vagaries of the election, especially after an electoral campaign which called into question French people of Muslim faith”underlines Dr Salim Bencheikh, president of the great mosque of Perpignan.
This concern arises from “the dangers that extremes can represent. We have people from immigrant backgrounds but from the 2nd, 3rd or even 4th generation, who recognize France as their country, a country of freedom”adds Dr. Bencheikh.
Who has hope for this June 30th of a “national surge for living together, and for each individual to be recognized in their freedom.”
