Strasbourg regulates the financial support of religious buildings.

People argue loudly about externals and trifles, but there is agreement on the core of the matter: Strasbourg regulates the financial support of religious buildings. The subsidy to Europe’s largest mosque is controversial.

Dhe meeting of the Strasbourg City Council last Monday took place in the Palais des Fêtes, the former singers’ house, a beautiful Art Nouveau building in the new town. The scene was a hall that is actually dedicated to singing performances. The voices that were raised there, of course, did not want to find either one another or a euphony: it was a belligerent “rentrée” during which the green mayor Jeanne Barseghian clashed violently with the opposition members from the political center and the conservative camp.

“Support of cult associations”

Not only was the closure of the Strasbourg museums vehemently criticized for two weekdays, but another sensitive topic was discussed so controversially that the meeting had to be interrupted: Under the name “Framework agreement for the support of cult associations and projects by the city of Strasbourg”, rules for committed to financing religious buildings and activities. The name didn’t come up, and yet everything revolved around it: the Eyyub Sultan Mosque.