Angers City Council Blocks Transfer of Unfinished Mosque to Moroccan Control

Everyone is now clear on the fate of the great mosque of Angers currently under construction. The municipal council, which should rule on its transfer or not, declared on Monday evening its opposition to this transfer to Morocco. "After hearing the different parties, after seeking external opinions and after taking the time to reflect, the municipal council does not wish an agreement to be given to the developer on this transfer which does not respect the legal framework of the initial contract," indicated the council’s decision.

The town hall argues that the land sale contract goes against a resale of the property by the buyer before the end of the work, except with the express authorization of the developer. "The transfer of the future mosque to a foreign country does not correspond to the desired neutrality for the realization and future operation of such an facility," the council deliberated, recalling that it remains "attached to the free exercise of religions, and respectful of the wish of the Muslim community to have a worthy place of worship allowing believers to practice their religion."

To recall, the great mosque of Angers, which has a capacity of 2,500 worshippers, has been under construction since 2014 in the Hauts de Saint-Aubin district. The construction space had been sold in 2011 to the AMA by the semi-public company Sara, now Alter Cités, led by the mayor of Angers Christophe Béchu. At the end of September, its free transfer to the Ministry of Habous and Islamic Affairs of Morocco was voted by the Association of Muslims of Angers, to accelerate the completion of the work which is dragging on due to lack of financial means. "2.5 million euros have been collected and there would still be 4.5 million euros missing," details a source close to the town hall.