Religion
Laïcité
France is a strictly secular country that refuses to acknowledge religion in any way. Therefore, it is not legal for a census taker to record someone’s religion. The majority of Marseille’s population remains Catholic. However, it is estimated that as much as one third of the city’s population practices Islam. Some demographers believe that Marseille will be the first western European city with a majority Muslim population. Approximately 80,000 Jews, 80,000 Armenian Apostolics, and a variety of other groups also reside in the city.
Mega-Mosque
While the Muslim population in Marseille is huge--and growing—it is important to note that Muslims living in the city are not just one homogeneous entity. They may share the same religion but they hail from different countries, speak different languages, and practice different cultural traditions. One issue that has Muslims divided is that of the Mega-Mosque. This proposed 92,000 square foot building built on the North side of the Vieux Port would accommodate 7,000 worshippers; a structure many say is needed. Right now there are more than seventy mosques in Marseille, but there is still not enough room. During Friday prayer, worshippers often overflow out of makeshift mosques in basements and garages into the street. It is clear that there is a need for more places of worship for Marseille’s Muslim population, but many members of the community question whether the mega-mosque is the best solution. A member of the Council of Muslims of Marseille, Mammeri remarked to CNN “It’s not Muslims that need a big mosque. It’s the government that needs a big mosque, so its reputation as a cosmopolitan, diverse and harmonious city lasts.” He doubts the project will ever be completed, arguing that there have been plans for a large mosque in the city since the 1930s.
On the other hand, many Muslim leaders in Marseille have sung their approval of the endeavor as a necessary recognition of the growing Islamic community in France. A permit for the project was granted in 2009 but construction halted after complaints from the community and cash flow issues. Some conservative Catholics in the city think the mosque’s 82 foot minaret would dominate the city skyline and take the emphasis away from the Notre Dame de la Garde. It is uncertain if the project will ever be completed, however it is certain that France will continue to be a melting pot of cultures and religions and must accommodate their diverse communities.