Montpellier Mosque Transfer to Morocco-Linked Group Halted After Local Opposition

The news of the renunciation of the transfer of the Averroès mosque is brought by the town hall of Montpellier. According to the municipal authorities, the religious association has announced in a letter received at the town hall its decision to renounce the sale for a symbolic euro of this mosque. "Its leaders are requesting the outright withdrawal of the administrative act filed with the city services," informs the town hall.

A week ago, the mayor of Montpellier, who feared "this attempted takeover by a foreign country," had fiercely opposed the planned transfer of the mosque. Hence his decision to "pre-empt this place of worship, to guarantee its independence."

For his part, the president of the Averroès mosque, issued a press release, assuring that the procedure for the transfer of the mosque "was initiated openly and through the usual channels for this type of operation without any intention to deceive anyone, let alone Mr. the mayor [...] It is in a spirit of transparency that the request was filed." Continuing his explanation, Tahiri Lhoussin, assures that the sale was "in no way an approach of interference and even less of takeover." "The transfer to Morocco," clarifies the president, "was in no way aimed at the control of the mosque by this country," but it was supposed to bring its support to various projects carried by the association" which itself, bought back this mosque from the town hall in 2016, for 1.2 million euros, thanks to "the mobilization of the faithful."

In reality, the association is experiencing enormous financial difficulties that no longer allow it to ensure the many charges related to the proper functioning of the place of worship. "There are too many charges. Operating costs are 5,000 euros per month, not counting the imam’s salary. Since March, and the health crisis, the faithful are less present, there is less income," Tahiri Lhoussin confided to Midi Libre. Among the other components of the announced projects, the president mentions the financing of an extension and the renovation of rooms. All things that the transfer would have made it possible to guarantee.