“This is the third project we are working on. We hope it will succeed. » Çetin Ali Cumur, president of the Islamic confederation Millî Görüs (CIMG) of Sarcelles, remains cautious, despite the steps already taken to realize the cultural center project, which the association has been supporting for several years. It aims to accommodate 12 education classes, a conference hall, a sports hall and youth lounge, a library and a mosque for students.
After a two-year legal standoff with the State, the building permit, granted by the mayor, has just been definitively validated. That’s the good news, the less good news for the association is that it cannot be built at Impasse des Presles where the CIMG already owns two pavilions. It should see the light of day near Chantereine college, on land that the city should cede to it. “In a spirit of harmony, we decided to vacate the land we occupy, despite the costs we had incurred there, and to follow the recommendations of the prefect who wanted a relocation,” explains Çetin Ali Cumur. It wasn’t an easy decision, we’ve been in the neighborhood for twenty years. We had to convince the members. »
A “complicated” relocation
The CIMG also responds to a request from residents of the Pasteur-Sablons district who were concerned about the construction of this imposing extension. They feared an influx of traffic and increased parking difficulties. And had launched a petition to oppose this project. “It collected around sixty signatures,” underlines the president of the CIMG, “while the one that supported our project had 700 or 800, which tells you the extent to which we were accepted in the neighborhood. » The CIMG, however, decided to bow for the sake of “dialogue.” » And should acquire, from the city, land located near Chantereine college.
During the last municipal council, elected officials also voted to downgrade the land, which will be sold to the association. “The association wanted not to come into conflict with the residents,” summarizes the mayor, Patrick Haddad (PS). They will set up in a place where there will be no neighborhood problems. Once this center is built, they will move towards selling the pavilions. This will remain a residential area. Bravo to the CIMG for its perseverance. This is the way I want everyone to work in this city. »
A method called into question by opposition elected official François-Xavier Valentin. He wonders about the future of the pétanque club which today occupies the land which should be ceded to the CIMG. “So you are going to deprive people who practice a sporting activity to build a religious center there, without offering alternative land? » he questions, before recalling his opposition to this project. “I was not in favor of the CIMG setting up in Les Sablons, nor am I in favor of it doing so near the Chantereine college,” continues the opponent, who recalls the controversial nature of the CIMG. She had refused to sign the charter of principles of Islam in France, before finally affixing her initials to it.
There remains the question of financing
The association defends itself. “We have an important role in the integration of the Turkish community into society and during the riots, no young Turks participated. We played a lot on the dialogue. We managed to ease the conflicts. All of this is important within the city,” underlines the president of CIMG Sarcelles. As for the pétanque club, the mayor invites it to join that of the AASS, the association bringing together the city’s different sports clubs.
However, the question of financing the future cultural center remains. “As long as we do not have the building permit for the land and complete part of the building to carry out our activities there, we will not be able to leave Impasse des Presles,” explains Çetin Ali Cumur. Since 2002, we have not asked for a euro from the municipality. We try to manage on our own, but people keep putting obstacles in our way. Financially, it’s a bit complicated to keep our donors motivated, because we had already launched donation campaigns in the past. »
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