New Mosque Inaugurated in French City

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - Construction of the mosque had begun 13 years ago but its completion was delayed due to attempts by anti-Islamic elements, lavoixdunord website reported. The mosque was opened on Saturday, September 7, in a ceremony attended by the city’s mayor, Muslim citizens and officials from the Moroccan embassy in France. A representative of the French Muslim Society in a speech said holding prayers in the new mosque would be step to advance peaceful coexistence in the city. Alal Al-Nukari, member of the board of directors of Al-Sunnah Mosque and Cultural Center also addressed the ceremony, saying that Muslims need more places for worship in France. Some 1.5 million Euro was spent to build the Al-Sunnah Mosque and Cultural. All the money was donated by the city’s Muslims. France has the largest Muslim minority in Western Europe. Some 6 million Muslims are estimated to live in the country./149