|
|
"The need was so pressing to
have such an institute to counter prevailing Islamophobia,"
said Beshari.
|
PARIS — France's first Islamic government-backed
institute will open in October in the northern city of Lille to
counter the rising Islamophobia phenomenon and groom qualified imams
and preachers.
"The need was so pressing to have such an
institute to counter prevailing Islamophobia," the institute's
dean Mohammad El-Beshari told IslamOnline.net.
"The institute, which is affiliated to the
University of Lille, will project the tolerant image and openness of
Islam," added Beshari, also the deputy head of the French Council
for Muslim Faith (CFCM).
He said the Muslim minority, estimated at some six
millions, were in a dire need to have such an educational
establishment.
The institute is co-financed by the French and
Qatari governments and its premises are donated by Lille Municipality.
In July of 2003, the French government approved the
establishment of Ibn Rushd school in Lille, which became the first
secondary Muslim school in France.
Muslims make up about 25 percent of Lille's one
million population.
Diverse
Beshari said the institute welcomes diversity among
its students, noting that it would admit both Muslim and non-Muslims
interested in studying Islamic civilization and culture.
Mohammed Al-Mistiri, the academic supervisor, said
the mainly teaches Islamic civilization, culture, history in addition
to the principles of Islamic jurisprudence.
"The history of secularism in France and its
relation with religions is also another major," he added.
Mistiri said the institute offers specialized
courses for Muslim imams and preachers working in prisons, the Army
and hospitals.
"This falls in line with the government drive
to encourage homegrown imams."
Daw Meskine, the imam of the Clichy-Sous-Bois
mosque and the secretary general of the French Council of Imams,
welcomed the new institute.
"There is a possibility of cooperation between
the institute and the council," he told IOL.
The new institute is named after one of the
greatest scientists in Islamic history, Ibn Sina.
A physician, philosopher and scientist who was born
in 980 in modern-day Uzbekistan, Ibn Sina authored 450 books on a wide
range of subjects.
His most famous works are The Book of Healing and
The Canon of Medicine, also known as the Qanun.
