France moves to pay for mosques to curb terrorism

Hindustan Times ^ | Saturday, January 18, 2003 | Vijay Dutt

[TheConservator]

Terrorism has made France consider changing one of its fundamental principles of keeping state and religion separate and accept the proposal for the state to fund the building of mosques in the country.

So far the state is not allowed to build places of worship under a 1905 law. President Jacques Chirac recently welcomed leaders of the new nationally elected Muslim Council to reportedly put the suggestion of state funding.

Mr. Chirac told them that in the past he regretted there was no organised dialogue between Muslim representatives and French authorities. He said he hoped the Islam of France and the Muslims of France would achieve the same status-- with equal rights and duties--as all other citizens.

This move is viewed as a bold scheme to create a French version of Islam so as to prevent the country's second biggest religion from falling into the sway of foreign powers, notably Saudi Arabia.

Riyadh has helped the construction of many mosques all over the world, including the golden-dome mosque in Regent Park in London. It’s the biggest mosque in Britain.

A spokesman has been quoted, " One cannot be opposed to the foreign financing of places of worship and at the same time do nothing about it." The minister for property and building law explained, " In 1905, the government thought that Catholics were anti-republican and constituted a menace.

" Today, it is Islam which poses this question. It would be unrealistic not to respond to this concern." The police have been keeping an eye on mosques fearing they might provide cover and shelter to terrorists.

At present there are 1600 mosques in France, much less than in the United Kingdom. Most of these mosques are little more than a room. But money from Saudi Arabia and some other Gulf countries have been pouring in for building Islamic centres and mosques. The Grand Mosque in Lyons cost £3 million, most of that money came from Saudi Arabia.

[Catspaw]

Som Chirac wants the Saudis to export MORE Wahabbism. That's just what we need. < /sarcasm>

[niteowl77]

Marxist or that old umbrella "progressive." Whatever the case, France now appears to be too sophisticated (or too universally inert) to deal with a real menace, which is par for the course in today's Europe. As you pointed out, we have some of the same gargoyles here- the difference being that the beast has had some trouble getting the U.S. to conform with his timetable.

[Camel Joe]

The French were always quite fond of lopping off heads, the Muslims are made to order leaders for the Frogs.

[BeAllYouCanBe]

"They're gonna love it."

Great post. Yep, Saddam = Stalin.

[BeAllYouCanBe]

"Muslims are made to order leaders for the Frogs."

So the next revolution will be even bloodier than the last one they had. They love their guillotine which their greatest contribution to technology.

[GirlShortstop]

He said he hoped the Islam of France and the Muslims of France would achieve the same status...

...suicide

[Savage Beast]

Actually, I love France and the French people. (Moi, je suis de la descente francaise.)

They seem unwilling to protect themselves.

It is ironic that they are so determined to prevent their language from corruption, yet seem oblivious to the real threat to their entire culture and civilization and the real possibility that these can be destroyed--and their precious language along with them.

Perhaps those who lack the will to survive don't deserve to, but it will be a historic tragedy of major proportions if France--and the rest of Europe--succumbs to the dark night of Islam.

If we could go back in time and prevent the fall of Athens, the burning of the Library at Alexandria, or the fall of Constantinople, we would readily do it, but even if we could travel in time, we would likely find it impossible to manipulate the events.

Even now, it may be impossible to prevent the fall of France.

[orbital]

Another country gone to the dogs, although I'm not sure how well these plans will go down with the French people, rather than their administration.

Have you heard about the latest design for a French tank? It's got four gears, three of them are for reversing, and one is for advancing forward (in case it is attacked from behind).

[GirlShortstop]

 
Have you heard about the latest design for a French tank? It's got four gears, three of them are for reversing, and one is for advancing forward (in case it is attacked from behind).          

[B Knotts]

Here's an idea, although it may be a bit too bold for the French.

The Muslims can pay for their own mosques.

And Saudi Arabia could be forbidden from financing the building of mosques in France, at least until they allow Catholic Churches to be built in Saudi Arabia.

[Consort]

[gitmo]

Next step: The French Government will supply arms to French Muslims, so that foreign governments will not be supplying arms to French Muslims.

[DoughtyOne]

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[gitmo]

This move is viewed as a bold scheme to create a French version of Islam so as to prevent the country's second biggest religion from falling into the sway of foreign powers, notably Saudi Arabia.

A bold scheme!

[beavus]

What do the Christians have to say??

How about the taxpayers?

[william clark]

Bet they also rub snow on frostbite.

[Savage Beast]

The French think they have learned an important lesson. They haven't.

In the revolution of 1789, the aristocracy was intransigent and arrogant. In 2003, it is appeasing and cowering, hoping not to repeat the mistakes of 1789. These are, in fact, two faces of the same thing, and,

Unfortunately, the results promise also to be the same.

[beavus]

In the first place, rank and file lefties (most of them) hunger for absolutes

It's the left that has long promulgated the notion of there being no moral absolutes.

[Windsong]

Slightly OFF-Topic...

[DoughtyOne]

Not at all. In fear of problems with a new large group, the French are pefectly willing to cast reason to the wind and gift them with Mosques.