Ramadan Begins in France as Visa Issues Delay Arrival of Moroccan Imams

The first prayers announcing the start of the ramadan month resounded Wednesday evening at the Averroès mosque, located in the working-class neighborhood of La Paillade in Montpellier. The main person in charge of the place intends to make this period a moment of exchange and openness to the outside world. "So that people know how Ramadan is going. We are also preparing a delocalized iftar - evening meal - in a public place where everyone can come," says Lhoussine Tahri.

The mosque authorities are expecting around 3,500 worshippers this year. The religious supervision of such a large number of faithful requires having the necessary human resources. But the experienced imams who will come from Morocco, Algeria, Turkey to lend a hand are still blocked in their countries for visa reasons - France being one of the European countries that has restricted the number of visas granted to nationals of certain countries, including Morocco. "Many mosques are asking me for imams, I hope it will be sorted out," insists Lhoussine Tahri, visibly upset by the situation, reports Midi Libre.

"The authorities must facilitate the arrival of these reciters who have come only for the month of Ramadan. Training our own local reciters takes time, we are working on it," specifies his team. Pending the arrival of the preachers, the mosque will try its best to help its faithful to live this time of prayer and sharing without disturbing the neighborhood. "We will make every effort to limit the consequences on public tranquility through repeated calls to the community," indicate the managers of the Averroès mosque who, despite inflation, have placed this month under the sign of "solidarity and living together".