Plans for largest Mosque in Europe scrapped by French court

Marseilles - Plans to construct a Grand Mosque in the French city of Marseilles have been scrapped, as a French court annulled the construction permit. The Mosque was intended to cater to the 250,000 strong Muslim population in the city.

Plans to build the largest Mosque in Europe to cater to the 250,000 strong Muslim population of Marseilles, France, have been scrapped, following a decision by the Administrative Tribunal of Marseille. The court annulled the construction permit that was granted in 2009, stating that the mega-Mosque failed to meet urban planning requirements. The court expressed particular concern regarding the failure to secure a parking area for 450 cars, though even that figure is low for a building which could host 7,000 worshippers. Construction had been suspended due to objections from locals. The planned Mosque would have dominated the city, with a minaret towering 25 meters high. In addition to the Mosque the building was designed to have a Koranic school, a library and restaurant, according to Hudson New York and would have cost $31 million. Maxime Repaux, the project's architect said “I find it pretty amazing that they’ve cancelled our construction permit because of a parking lot when what we are trying to do is to bring Islam out of the garage and to stop prayers in the streets" iina reported.When the construction permit was originally granted it was hailed as a means to better integrate the Muslim population into the community and foster a moderate Islam. However a new study entitled "Suburbs of the Republic" by political scientist Gilles Kepel has concluded that the failure of Muslim integration into French society is turning France into a divided nation, Europe News reported.