A Mosque for Gien

There are several articles relevant to Turkey. This one from Joachim Véliocras announces the grand opening of the mosque of Gien, financed by the Turkish population of the city:

Sunday May 25, after three years of construction, the Turkish Cultural and Religious Association Gien-Briare inaugurated its mosque amidst great pomp. Besides the mayors of the surrounding cities, the sub-prefect of Montargis, Madame Martinez-Pommier, along with representatives of the Turkish consulate in France attended the event. In order to make their dream a reality, each Turkish colonist contributed 1800 euros, making possible the importation from Turkey of a mosaic façade and a large prayer rug. The regional daily paper République du Centre, adds that besides classes in sharia law, Turkish-language classes will be programmed for children every week, since the mosque, "over and beyond its religious aspect is a true cultural center."

The event did not go unnoticed in Gien, where posters cover the walls of all the neighborhoods announcing the opening, that culminated in a party in a hall belonging to the city, with songs, dances and Turkish culinary specialties, and of course the inevitable whirling dervishes. The president of the mosque's association, Adem Cift, with a straight face declared to the press: "What is not well known is that the Turkish people are very open and love to share. This gives them a chance to show it."

Some examples of Turkey's openness:

- Barring Catholics from any legal statute that would allow them to organize into an association to collect money for the construction or restoration of a church.

- Barring all foreign religious persons from obtaining a visa, no matter how short-term.

- Seizure of the property of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Istanbul.

- On-going ban on talking about the two remaining centuries-old monasteries of Tur Abdin that have been closed since 1979.

- The Orthodox seminary of Halki, the main center of theological training of the Greek Orthodox world, has been closed since 1974, and is forbidden by the Islamist government from re-opening.

- The northern part of Cyprus, occupied by Turkey, has experienced a total religious cleansing: 82 churches were at one time present on this territory. Today not one is a place of worship: 68 have been transformed into mosques, 5 into stables, 4 into museums, 3 into army barracks, 2 into residences. On August 27, 2004, a bomb exploded in front of one of them... Etienne Leroy, a research analyst specializing in Turkey, says ironically of the Turkish system of "laïcité": "It is difficult to be reassured about the tolerance of a 'laïc State' that indicates religion on the ID's of its citizens, that refuses to authorize the restoration of the oldest church in Christendom (in Ourfa, formerly Edessa), and that uses abandoned Armenian churches as targets for artillery exercises on the Anatolian plateau. No one should be fooled by Turkish "laïcité."

The photo from Ramayana shows the rather lonely-looking but still beautiful Armenian church of the Holy Cross, on Akdamar Island, Lake Van. The church dates from 921.

The coat of arms belongs to Gien.