Agen Mosque Promotes Interfaith Dialogue and Open Islam in France

"We have always said yes to requests to visit the mosque, the premises, the women’s space. The door is wide open," Messaoud Settati, president of the Association of Muslims of the Mosque of Agen, the largest built on an area of 4,000 m², told La Dépêche.

"An upcoming open house day is being considered to better understand our religion, the role of the mosque. In 2016, 1,200 people came to the open house; but this time, we want to take the time to organize it," says Moha, deputy secretary of the association. According to him, these are major intercultural encounters. "We really need these intercultural encounters, we organize them regularly for middle and high schools on the discovery of religions," he adds.

At the Agen mosque, the thought of Islam that calls for tolerance, peace and openness is conveyed. "We have a common regulation for welcoming the faithful and we do not derogate from this rule. The imam is bilingual, it is a strength. He preaches in French, in classical Arabic and also in darija (NDLR: Moroccan dialect)," says Abdelaziz, a member of the office.

200 to 800 people participate in the five daily prayers and up to 1,200 faithful for the Friday sermon at 1 p.m., including 500 women. Moroccans and Algerians rub shoulders. "Among the people who come to us, there are children, grandchildren, fully French Muslims with strong French roots. We do not cultivate any communitarianism, the mix is there, especially on Fridays [...]," says Moha, deputy secretary of the association.