PARIS,
April 10 (IslamOnline.net) - The annual conference of the Union of
French Islamic Organizations (UOIF), Paris-le-Bourget, was abundant with signs
seen as indicative of a rising Francophonic Islam in the strictly
secular European country.
The
three-day conference, focusing on the freedom of religion in modern
societies, will wrap up on Monday, April 12.
In
one of the exhibitions held on its sidelines, Tareq Abdel Wahid boasts
his Da’wa sporting cloths which carry postures taken by Muslims
doing their prayers.
"Our
aim is to show that Islam is not against sports," Abdel Wahid,
himself a basketball player, told IslamOnline.net.
Abdel
Wahid was hopeful the Da’wa sporting clothes would soon compete with
international brand names in France.
French-Speaking
Muslim
participants, mostly hailing from Arab origins, were always seen keen
on speaking French rather than Arabic.
Meeting
in any of the conference rooms or exhibitions, they would start off
with the Islamic greeting As-salaamu ‘alaykum [peace be upon you] in
Arabic but continue the entire conversation in French.
"I
do my best to speak Arabic but French remains my mother tongue,"
said 22-year-old veiled Khaledja.
She
was shopping inside one of exhibitions selling dresses tailored
specifically for hijab-wearing women.
French
Islamic Magazines
Another
sign of the rising Franchophonic Islam which took central stage in the
Bourget conference and exhibition was new publications.
Though
addressing an Arabic-speaking Muslim readership, new magazines, such
as Reflection, are only available in French.
France
has a population of about six million Muslims, the biggest Muslim
community in Europe.
Even
French music on display at the exhibitions had an Islamic character.
In
one sound track, a group of young Muslim reflect on their sufferings
in Paris suburbs and boast the humanitarian values of Islam.
This
year conference comes a few months after the French parliament passed
a law banning hijab in state-run schools.
A
number of prominent Muslim figures in France and across Europe are
expected to address the annual gathering.
They
include Ahmed Jaballah, Tareq Oubrou, Saïda Kada, Amar Lasfar,
Abdallah Basfar, Hassan Iquioussen and Issam Al Bashir.
The
UOIF is the biggest Muslim body in
France and groups about 200 societies.
It
was founded in 1983 by a cohort of Moroccan immigrants and came to
prominence in the late 1980s during protests against hijab ban.
