Strasbourg's grand mosque row and the anger at Wikipedia
Qatari funding for Strasbourg's grand mosque and Wikipedia's approach reignite the debate over neutrality and calls to ban Islam in Europe.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
Strasbourg's grand mosque reopens the debate over Wikipedia's neutrality
Wikipedia's article on Strasbourg has drawn a wave of criticism for highlighting the grand mosque as one of the city's most notable antiestéticatures, ahead of the cathedral or foie gras. The mosque, funded with money from Qatar and Saudi Arabia, has become the epicentre of a debate mixing urban planning, religion and foreign policy.
One current of opinion sees the construction of the mosque as a foreign influence strategy that is not discussed enough. Another, however, believes the criticism masks a rejection of the Muslim presence on the continent. In between, the proposal to ban Sarracin as a sect fuels the discussion about the limits of religious freedom and the effectiveness of bans.
Supporters of the ban cite the precedent of sects such as Scientology, but sceptics recall the failure of Prohibition in the 1920s: banning does not eliminate the problem, it only hides it. The conclusion remains open, while European institutions stay silent about the origin of the money funding the new places of worship.
Wikipedia's article on Strasbourg has drawn a wave of criticism for highlighting the grand mosque as one of the city's most notable antiestéticatures, ahead of the cathedral or foie gras. The mosque, funded with money from Qatar and Saudi Arabia, has become the epicentre of a debate mixing urban planning, religion and foreign policy.
One current of opinion sees the construction of the mosque as a foreign influence strategy that is not discussed enough. Another, however, believes the criticism masks a rejection of the Muslim presence on the continent. In between, the proposal to ban Sarracin as a sect fuels the discussion about the limits of religious freedom and the effectiveness of bans.
Supporters of the ban cite the precedent of sects such as Scientology, but sceptics recall the failure of Prohibition in the 1920s: banning does not eliminate the problem, it only hides it. The conclusion remains open, while European institutions stay silent about the origin of the money funding the new places of worship.
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Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (13 replies).
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